Fomes Pini Research Articles

Internal Defect Resulting from Logging Wounds in Residual White Pine Trees

About 20% of residual white pine (Pinus strobus L.) trees, 55 to 80 years old, were wounded despite a carefully supervised improvement logging operation. Five years after logging, samples of the most severe wound types revealed very little internal defect (avg of 0.25% of gross merchantable volume decayed and 0.39% stained). Thirteen decay-causing basidiomycetes were isolated from the decays and stains in wounded tissues, some of which (Stereum sanguinolentum (Alb. and Schw. ex Fr.) Fr., Coniophora puteana (Schum. ex Fr.) Karst., Fomes pini (Fr.) Karst., and Scytinostroma galactinum [Fr.] Donk), are known to be capable of extensive decay in mature white pine or other conifers. Several of the other fungi are of unpredictable importance in white pine. Felling scrapes and skidder scrapes on tree trunks, gouges in the wood caused by skidders, and broken tree tops were most frequently invaded by wood rotting fungi. Modifications to logging procedures are suggested that would reduce the incidence and severity of these wounds.

Heart rot of black spruce in Ontario. II. The mycoflora in defective and normal wood of living trees

The fungi most frequently associated with heart rot in black spruce stems were the Basidiomycetes Fomes pini (Fr.) Karst., Scytinostroma galactina (Fr.) Donk, Polyporus tomentosus Fr., Peniophora septentrionalis Laurila, and Coniophora puteana (Schum. ex Fr.) Karst. Factors related to the occurrence of these and other Basidiomycetes are assessed. An Ascomycete, Ascocoryne sarcoides (Jacq. ex Gray) Groves and Wilson, was frequently isolated from both clear and defective wood in living black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) stems older than 75 years of age. In laboratory tests this fungus invaded but did not appreciably alter black spruce heartwood, and provided some protection against subsequent decay by F. pini. Evidence is presented that the widespread occurrence of A. sarcoides in mature black spruce stems partly explains the relatively low incidence of defect in this species. The potential use of A. sarcoides as an agent for the biological control of decay in black spruce and other conifers is discussed.

Bioassays of fungi isolated from Pinus contorta var. latifolia with pinosylvin, pinosylvinmonomethyl ether, pinobanksin, and pinocembrin

On 2% malt extract agar media containing 10% lodgepole pine heartwood meal, laccase-producing Peniophora pseudo-pini Weres. & Gibson and Fomes pini (Thore ex Fr.) Lloyd survived 400 p.p.m. of dispersed non-solvated pinosylvin, double the lethal dose of pinosylvin for these fungi on 2% malt extract agar. Non-laccase-producing Coniophora puteana Schum. ex Fr. survived 200 p.p.m. of pinosylvin on 2% malt extract agar containing 10% heartwood meal. The lethal dose of pinosylvin for C. puteana on 2% malt extract agar was 50 p.p.m.On 2% malt extract agar and on 2% malt extract containing 1% cellobiose, 200 p.p.m. of the flavanone pinocembrin permitted the survival of P. pseudo-pini in the presence of 200 p.p.m. of pinosylvin. F. pini survived 200 p.p.m. of pinosylvin on 2% malt extract agar containing 1% cellobiose. This fungus survived when 200 p.p.m. of the flavanone pinocembrin were added to 200 p.p.m. of pinosylvin on 2% malt extract agar.

The effect of heartwood fungi of Pinus contorta var. latifolia on pinosylvin, pinosylvinmonomethyl ether, pinobanksin, and pinocembrin

The heartwood of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) contains considerable amounts of fungitoxic phenolics, but also possesses an extensive fungus flora. Two of the most frequently isolated fungi, Peniophora pseudo-pini Weres. & Gibson and Tympanis hypopodia Nyl., effected the most rapid decrease in concentration of pinosylvin, pinosylvinmonomethyl ether, pinocembrin, and pinobanksin in lodgepole pine heartwood meal. Three mechanisms for the removal of pinosylvin were observed. The laccase-producing ascomycetes, Coryne sarcoides (Dicks. ex Fr.) Bon. and T. hypopodia, caused a decrease in optical density as well as a maximum absorption shift of pinosylvin from 310 mμ to 300 mμ. This shift could be related to the appearance of a new compound which absorbed at 300 mμ. Three laccase-producing basidiomycetes, P. pseudo-pini, Stereum sanguinolentum Alb. & Schw. ex Fr., and Fomes pini (Thore ex Fr.) Lloyd, caused decreases in the concentration of pinosylvin that were concurrent with red stain formation in infected heartwood meal, but were not associated with maximum absorption shifts. The non-laccase-producing brown rot fungus, Coniophora puteana Schum. ex Fr., caused a maximum absorption shift of pinosylvin from 310 to 320 mμ. However, the concentration of altered pinosylvin did not decrease below that of pinosylvin in the control. All fungi were living at the conclusion of the experiment.

HEART ROT OF JACK PINE IN ONTARIO: II. LABORATORY STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENICITY AND INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF THE PRINCIPAL HEARTWOOD-INHABITING FUNGI

Two Basidiomycetes, Fomes pini (Fr.) Karst. and Peniophora pseudo-pini Weres. & Gibson, and three microfungi (Ascomycetes), Tympanis hypopodia Nyl., Retinocyclus abietis (Crouan) Groves & Wells, and a member of the Coryne sarcoides complex, are the fungi most frequently isolated from the heartwood of living jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) in the Province of Ontario. Of these, only F. pini is consistently associated with decayed wood. In laboratory tests all five caused significant weight losses in jack pine heartwood samples, and all but the C. sarcoides complex appreciably altered the color of the wood. T. hypopodia was exceedingly antagonistic towards F. pini, both in malt agar culture and when inoculated in advance of F. pini in jack pine wood samples. The activity of P. pseudo-pini in the test samples was reduced slightly by the prior establishment of T. hypopodia and the C. sarcoides complex, but was stimulated somewhat by the presence of R. abietis. The presence of the C. sarcoides complex in jack pine samples resulted in a moderate increase in the activity of F. pini.In some cases competitive interactions among heartwood-inhabiting fungi may partly explain the marked variability in defectiveness frequently observed among individual trees in forest stands.

HEART ROT OF JACK PINE IN ONTARIO: I. THE OCCURRENCE OF BASIDIOMYCETES AND MICROFUNGI IN DEFECTIVE AND NORMAL HEARTWOOD OF LIVING JACK PINE

A survey was made of the fungi inhabiting the heartwood of living jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) in Ontario, particularly in stained and decayed wood. Two Basidiomycetes encountered frequently were Fomes pini (Fr.) Karst., associated with red stain and white pocket rot, and Peniophora pseudo-pini Weres. & Gibson, isolated almost exclusively from stained wood. F. pini was the only fungus consistently associated with white pocket rot, the principal type of heart rot in jack pine. The three most abundant microfungi, a member of the Coryne sarcoides complex, Tympanis hypopodia Nyl., and Retinocyclus abietis (Crouan) Groves & Wells, were encountered frequently in stained wood, but less frequently in decayed and normal wood.Many aspects of the occurrence of these five fungi in jack pine were investigated, including their distribution in the stems and branch stubs of individual trees and their association with normal, stained, and decayed wood therein; and the relation between their occurrence and tree growth rate, various heartwood properties, and different stand conditions. The apparent means by which the fungi enter jack pine, and the possible existence of a succession of fungi in the heartwood of living trees, are discussed.

Effect of Incense—Cedar Heartwood Extract on Growth of Polyporus Amarus

Heart rot fungi vary greatly in their ability to attack different tree species. Fomes pini (Thore) Lloyd and Polyporus schweinitzii Fr. have a broad host spectrum. Echinodontium tinctorium Ell. & Ev. has a more limited host range, and P. amarus Hedgc. is confined to a single host, incense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens Torr.). This host specificity suggests (1) that the heartwood of incense-cedar meets the nutritional requirements of the fungus, and (2) that fungitoxic substances in the heartwood either are not effective against P. amarus or else are not present in sufficient quantity to inhibit it. In studies of such selective relations, in vitro growth tests of the fungus in host extracts are often used to detect the presence of growth-promoting substances or growthinhibiting substances or both. One approach to in vitro tests is to add the extract to nutrient media. The growth-promoting qualities of wood and wood extracts added to various media are well documented (La Fuse, 1937; Robbins and Hervey, 1955, 1959, 1960; Meyers and Reynolds, 1959; and others). Wall (1962) found that specific concentrations of cold water extracts of dead aspen branches added to agar stimulated spore germination of Fomes igniarius (L. ex Fr.) Kickx. The presence of fungitoxic sub? stances in heartwood has also been demonstrated by many workers. Rennerfelt and Nacht (1955) made a survey of the substances found in the heartwood of conifers and their toxicity to fungi. Anderson et al. (1963) made bioassays of the fungus-inhibiting extractive components of incense-cedar heartwood.

DECAY OF LODGEPOLE PINE IN TWO FOOTHILLS SECTIONS OF THE BOREAL FOREST IN ALBERTA

Cull in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) is highly variable in the B19a and B19c Sections of the Boreal Forest in Alberta, depending upon whether the wood is used for pulp or sawed products. Sixty-nine per cent of 2,436 sample trees were suspected of containing volumes of red heartwood stain and advanced decay on the basis of the presence of external defects. Fifty-three per cent of the suspects were sound, 36 per cent had red heartwood stain and 11 per cent were partly or entirely decayed. Sixty per cent of the trees without external defects were sound, and 40 per cent had red heartwood stain. In cubic-foot measure decay was unimportant in stands less than 100 years old. In older stands a few infested trees accounted for most of the decay. In foot-board measure 62 of 2,746 sample trees were totally culled and 122 were partially culled. Considerable loss occured in 90-year old and older stands near Whitecourt and in 170-year old stands in the other sample areas. Fomes pini (Thore) Lloyd and Polyporus tomentosus Fr. were the principal fungi isolated from white pitted trunk rots. P. tomentosus and Flammula alnicola (Fr.) Kummer were isolated most frequently from white pitted root and butt rots, and Coniophora puteana (Schum. ex Fr.) Karst. from brown cubical root and butt rots. Peniophora pseudo-pini Weres. and Gibson was the most frequently isolated fungus but was always associated with red heartwood stain. Scars of all kinds were the most important points of entry for decay fungi.

THE DETERIORATION BY FUNGI OF JACK, RED, AND WHITE PINE KILLED BY FIRE IN ONTARIO

The nature, causes, and rate of pathological deterioration of jack, red, and white pine killed by fire in the Mississagi region of Ontario in 1948 were studied to determine the practicability and probable duration of profitable salvage operations in such stands. Blue and brown sapwood stains appeared in all species 1 year after the fire, and became extensive during the succeeding 3 years. Sap rot was first noted 2 years after the fire; 5 years after the fire most of the sapwood was affected, and in some cases this rot extended into the heartwood. Three fungi, Peniophora gigantea (Fries) Massee, Polyporus anceps Peck, and Polyporus abietinus Dicks. ex Fries, were isolated consistently from white sap rots, while Fomes pinicola (Sw.) Cooke and Fomes subroseus (Weir) Overh. were recovered from many of the brown sap rots. The increase in the volume of heart rot encountered during the course of the study, chiefly associated with Fomes pini (Thore) Lloyd, was much greater than that observed in living pine over a similar period, and for this reason the excess was considered as a form of deterioration. The average rate of radial penetration of visible deterioration was significantly faster in trees with widely spaced annual rings in the outer portion of the bole than in slow-growing trees. Variations in the severity of burn in individual trees or stands apparently had little effect on the rate of pathological deterioration.

STUDIES IN FOREST PATHOLOGY: XIV. DECAY OF DOUGLAS FIR IN THE COASTAL REGION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

An investigation of Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga taxifolia (Poir.) Britton, in coastal British Columbia has shown that decay losses in old-growth stands are low, amounting to 2.6 and 7.3% of the gross volume of living and combined living and dead trees respectively. Twenty-five decay-producing fungi were isolated from living trees and 29 from dead trees. The most important of these were Fomes pini (Thore) Lloyd, Polyporus schweinitzii Fries, and Fomes pinicola (Sw.) Cke. Certain irregularities in the occurrence of decay-producing fungi and the amounts of decay associated with them were traced to the influences of site, tree age or size, latitude, and stand history. Root infections were the most frequent but branch-stub infections caused the greatest average amount of decay. An examination of tree abnormalities showed that a select group of them, sporophores and swollen knots of Fomes pini in particular, are useful indicators of hidden decay. A separate analysis of dead trees has shown that they occasion ally form a high proportion of Douglas fir stands and that much of the wood in such trees is sound.

STUDIES IN FOREST PATHOLOGY: XII. DECAY OF WESTERN HEMLOCK IN THE UPPER COLUMBIA REGION, BRITISH COLUMBIA

An investigation of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) in the Upper Columbia region has shown that decay losses are excessive, amounting to 52 and 74% in terms of cubic and board foot computations respectively. The logs of 833 hemlock on 36 sample plots located in mature timber were analyzed in detail. Twenty-six decay-producing fungi have been isolated. Sixty-two per cent of the total decay was attributed to Echinodontium tinctorium Ell. & Ever. and 25% to Fomes pini (Thore) Lloyd. Considerable variation in the fungi responsible for decay was encountered intraregionally. Stand defect losses varied from 38 to 71%. Some of this variation could be predicted on the basis of the site index determinations of hemlock. Relative to the total incidence and importance of decay, Echinodontium tinctorium decreased and Fomes pini increased in significance with increasing site quality. Sporophores, scars, dead tops, large rotten branches, swollen knots, frost cracks, forked trees, and trunk infections of mistletoe were classed as indicators of significance in relation to hidden defect. Living trees, classed as Suspect or Residual depending on the presence or absence of one or more reliable indicators of defect, were found to differ appreciably in average defect. Within each of the preceding classes decay increased progressively with increasing diameter and decreasing site quality. Immature hemlock was found to be susceptible to appreciable decay and mature stands reached an advanced stage of deterioration at 250 years. Multiple correlation analyses between percentage of decay, site, age, and the relative percentage of Residual trees weighted by volume permitted an estimate of total stand defect within ± 7%.

DECAY IN WHITE SPRUCE AT THE KANANASKIS FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION

1. One hundred and four white spruce were analyzed for decay at the Kananaskis Forest Experiment Station. Lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, and alpine fir occurring on the sample plot with the spruce were also analyzed.2. On a board foot basis, cull in white spruce averaged 12.5 per cent. Percentages of cull in other species were: lodgepole pine 41.7, Douglas fir 28.3, and alpine fir 0.4.3. Gross and net volume tables for white spruce in board feet and total cubic feet are presented.4. POLYPORUS CIRCINATUS var. DUALIS Peck and FLAMMULA CONNISSANS Fr. were the most important causes of root rot and were responsible for 30 per cent of the total decay volume.5. FOMES PINI (Thore) Lloyd and STEREUM SANGUINOLENTUM Alb. & Schw. ex Fr. were the most important causes of trunk rot and were responsible for more than 50 per cent of the total decay volume.

STUDIES IN FOREST PATHOLOGY: X. DECAY OF WHITE PINE IN THE TIMAGAMI LAKE AND OTTAWA VALLEY AREAS

The study of decay and decay relationships of white pine was undertaken to provide forest authorities in Ontario with information essential to the management of even-aged stands. Of 1012 white pine trees examined in 10 1-acre plots, located in even-aged white pine stands, 52% contained decay. A well-defined relationship existed between age and decay. The proportion of trees with decay increased gradually with age from 40% in the 60-year age class to 100% in the 220-year age class. The loss in merchantable volume increased from 4% at 60 years to 40% at 200 years. No consistent relationship between percentage of decay and diameter was found. The incidence of decay in vigorous and non-vigorous trees was about the same but the percentage of volume lost through decay was considerably higher in slow-growing, less vigorous trees. The pathological rotation, as indicated by the maximum periodic increment, was 160 to 170 years. A number of methods of estimating the volume of decay in logs are compared. Regression lines, which define the percentage of cull allowances at all ages, are presented. Thirteen wood-destroying fungi were found to be associated with the decay of living white pine in Ontario. Fomes pini (Thore) Lloyd was responsible for 90% of all loss in trunks and butts of living trees. External signs of decay were rare, except in cases of advanced white pocket rot caused by F. pini.