Inoculation of stumps with Hypholoma fasciculare as a possible means to control armillaria root disease

Abstract

Hypholoma fasciculare (Huds. ex Fr.) Kummer was paired with Armillaria ostoyae (Romagn.) Herink in a variety of ways in the laboratory and then it was inoculated onto A. ostoyae infected stumps in the field. The ability of H. fasciuclare colonies to overrun A. ostoyae colonies in culture was confirmed. Hypholoma fasciculare fully colonized discs of tree roots where A. ostoyae was well established, and prevented A. ostoyae from occupying root segments when both fungi were introduced simultaneously. A simple method for inoculating H. fasciculare into stumps is described, and data supporting successful field inoculations are presented. The ability of H. fasciculare to invade freshly killed stumps, even those occupied by Armillaria, is demonstrated, and it is speculated that the ability of this saprophyte to invade fresh stumps is dependent upon its inoculum potential.Key words: biocontrol, woody debris, fungal warfare, Armillaria ostoyae.