Early development of root rot in young Norway spruce planted on sites infected by Heterobasidion in southern Finland

Abstract

Root rot infections in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) regeneration, planted after the clear-cutting of spruce on sites infested by Heterobasidion, were investigated on 21 experimental plots in eight 2- to 23-year-old plantations. Heterobasidion root rot became evident about 10 years after planting and the proportion of infected spruces increased steadily with plantation age. The average number of planted spruces infected per old decayed stump was 0.2 trees in 2- to 9-year-old plantations, 0.8 trees in 11- to 15-year-old plantations, and 1.8 trees in 20- to 23-year-old plantations. About 10 and 20 years after planting, 7 and 23% of the planted spruces in the disease centers were infected by Heterobasidion. Heterobasidion parviporum Niemelä & Korhonen, and Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. s. str. caused 98 and 2% of the Heterobasidion infections in the previous spruce rotation, and 96 and 4% in the spruce regeneration, respectively. In all, 71% of the infected regeneration trees were attacked by a Heterobasidion genet that was also isolated from the stumps of the previous tree stand. Armillaria species (Armillaria borealis Marxmüller & Korhonen and Armillaria cepistipes Velenovský) were isolated from 7% of the planted spruces.