Which of the following is a sign of girdling by rope, wire, or vine?

• A. Excessive shoot growth below the constriction point.
• B. Rapid root growth above the constriction point.
• C. Leaves turning purple at the girdle.
• D. No visible symptoms.

Answer: (A)

Girdling interrupts the flow of sugars through the phloem, so carbohydrates produced by the leaves can’t move down to the roots. That buildup of resources above the ring often triggers extra vegetative growth in the region around the girdle. In practice, you’ll see unusually vigorous shoot growth just below the constriction as the plant responds to the localized excess of sugars and growth hormones there. That pattern—excessive shoot growth beneath the girdle—is the best sign of this injury because it directly reflects the plant’s response to blocked nutrient transport. The other options don’t fit the typical signs: root growth above the girdle would be unlikely when sugars can’t reach the roots, purple leaves at the girdle aren’t a standard diagnostic sign, and girdling usually shows visible symptoms rather than none at all.