Health Risk Assessment of Date Palm Trees with Aerial Roots in Taiwan

This study assessed the health risks of date palms in Taiwan with aerial root growth using visual tree assessment and non-destructive testing. Key external defects included leaning and insect damage, while acoustic tomography confirmed internal structural variability but required accuracy improvements. Drilling resistance tests showed that healthy trees had the highest resistance near the bark, decreasing toward the center, while decayed trees exhibited significant amplitude reductions. The phenomenon of aerial root growth on the outer side of the trunk is presumed to be a growth response of the tree to adapt to environmental changes, while the distinct dark wood band between the decayed and sound wood in the cross-section is likely a result of wood variation. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive tree health assessments and provide a scientific basis for improved urban tree management and conservation.