Compartmentalization of decay in trees

Compartmentalization Of Decay In Trees (CODIT) is a model developed by plant pathologist Alex Shigo after studying wood-decay fungus patterns.

[citation needed] With the advent of germ theory, however, German forester Robert Hartig in the early 20th century theorized the opposite was the case, and developed a new model for tree decay: when trees are wounded, fungi infect the wounds, and the result is decayed wood.

Shigo expanded this theory to claim that when trees are wounded, they respond to the infected wood with both chemical and physical changes to limit the decay, which he called compartmentalization.

By increasing understanding of how trees respond to decay, CODIT has had many applications.

For example, arborists are frequently called upon to analyze the danger posed to people or property by a damaged or decaying tree.