What term describes a stem or wood borer that cuts off the vascular system of the plant?

• A. Ringing
• B. Wilt
• C. Girdling
• D. Tunneling

Answer: (C)

Girdling is the process of removing or damaging a ring of tissue all the way around a stem, cutting the phloem and cambial layer that move sugars through the plant. When this circular band is gone, the transport of carbohydrates from the leaves to the roots is interrupted, so the roots can’t get the energy they need and the plant above the girdle can die. That complete circumferential disruption of vascular flow is what makes girdling the correct term for a stem or wood borer that cuts off the plant’s vascular system.

Ringing is a similar idea in everyday wording, but girdling is the precise term used in horticulture and plant health. Tunneling describes borers that create internal tunnels in the wood and may weaken the plant without necessarily severing the entire vascular connection. Wilt is a symptom of vascular disruption, not the name for the damage itself.