We evaluated the ability to close wounds inflicted with a drill to the trunks of seven common tree species from Barro Colorado Nature Monument. Panama. We predicted that species lacking wood antimicrobial activity would rapidly close wounds to prevent pathogen entrance, while those species with wood antimicrobial defenses need not necessarily exhibit fast wound closure. The species studied were Alseis blacksans, Gastaris superba, Micaria argensia, Poulsenia armala, Protium paramense. P. tennifolium, and Tetragastris paramensis. Callus, resins, and latex were all involved in wound closure, but mechanisms varied among species, after 3 months, the only pioneer species, Micusia, had minimal diameter closure, Alseis showed intermediate closure only by callus; and the other five species (which did not differ) had almost completely plugged their wounds by means of combined callus and resin production (Tetragastress and both species of Protium), latex (Poulsenia), or callus and woody fakes (Gustaria). Our initial prediction was supported for Gustavia and Poulsenia (i.e., rapid wound closure and no wood antimicrobial activity) but not for Tetragastris and Protium (that showed both rapid wound closure and strong wood antimicrobial activity). Micosia showed slow wound closure and no wood antimicrobial activity Only for Alseis, was wound closure rate proportional to stem diameter growth.