International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences IJBAS-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 76

Evaluation of Extent of Heart Rot Fungi Infection and Impacts on Live Juniperus excelsa Trees in Ziarat Juniper Forest Balochistan, Pakistan Huma Batool, Zahoor Ahmad Bazai, Dr. Rukhsana Jabeen, Dr. Tahir Aqil

 Abstract— In the contemporary evaluation study of Juniper instabilities appear to play an imperative character in forest Ziarat in Balochistan five selected compactly forested areas prevalence of this mutilation. Such fungi are more common in positioned at Zangoon Jungle (ZJ), Ambaar Zawar Sar (AZS), trees developing on slopes and have additional probabilities of Warkai Zazri (WZ), Salih Sakhobi (SS) & Nishpa (N) were scrutinized for the magnitude and concentration of heart rot root injury by rolling boulders and grazing animals [9]. In early fungal infection. There was statistically significant variance in phases heart rot disease level are small nevertheless the trees area wise mode and intensity of damage by fungal microbes on the expire owing to dynamics associated with competition [2]. Juniper trees. Heart rot fungal infection percentage calculated and In numerous regions around world tree decay is considered highest to lowest infection rate in AZS, N, WZ, SS & N were 59%, as one of the foremost grounds of tree failure [1], [4]. The 35%, 35%, 31% & 25% respectively. The fungal infection in stem occurrence of decay was premeditated on 137 juniper trees from highest to lowest in 5 locations AZS, N, WZ, SS, ZJ are 47.3, 23.66, 23.3, 16.66 & 13 respectively. Correspondingly, The premier (Juniperus excelsa) in the Baluchistan [10]. It was documented average number of severely damaged from highest to lowest AZS, that the incidence of decay was 83% and the extent of volume N, WZ, SS, ZJ are 18.33, 9, 7.33, 5 & 4.66 respectively. It was damage was 32% amongst the sample trees. The extent of concluded that the infection severity was very high and the mode decay amplified with the thickness of the tree, rising strikingly of infection was through wounds. It was recognized that pruning beyond 23 cm. DBH. It was pronounced that Pyrofomes and de branching of trees by community must be stopped in order demidoffii, the heart rot fungus, accounted for over 96% of the to control the heart rots and degradation of wood quality. aggregate decay volume [12]. The dead branch stubs and root- Index Term— Wood quality, wounds, Heart rot, Fungal infection, connections were the important means of entry for decay fungi Pruning, De branching. [14]. Attack of fungal agents was more profound on the larger and older trees as compared to the smaller and younger ones. I. INTRODUCTION These fruit bodies appeared similar to a mango when compared The Juniper forest of Ziarat is the only thickly forested area in with the specimens available in the forest pathology herbarium Balochistan province. Juniper trees are evergreen and long- of Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar [13]. lived (>1600 yr). It reveals extraordinary resilience to The major reason behind incidence of Juniper wood decay was disparaging environmental conditions, because it is resistant to caused by Pyrofomes demidoffii [12]. diseases [5] and it demonstrates tolerance to drought [4]. International Journal of Basic & Applied Living juniper trees are confronted by the heart rot fungus The spores of the heart rot fungi can enter the trees principally owing to unfavorable development conditions, degrading through the open wounds on the tree stems and branches due to timber quality. Heart rot is the decay of live trees, frequently in livestock grazing and other anthropogenic and natural injuries the heartwood of trees deceased branch stubs and root [11]. connections are considered as important means of entry for One can safely infer that these fungal attacks could be due to decay fungi. Mature trees live longer with infection declining the weaker old trees, low vigor, prolonged drought and physical slowly while young trees of 10-15 years age are destroyed in 3- injuries/ wounds which weaken the trees and favors the attack 4 years. The infection propagates virtually at the degree of of fungi. 30cm per year [7]. Root disturbance and soil moisture II. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 15 plots at the rate of 3 plots per vicinity were positioned randomly. Respective individual tree was examined Huma Batool and Dr. Rukhsana Jabeen are with Department of Botany at the Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University Quetta; Zahoor Ahmed Bazai is for detectable symptoms of the fungal infection. Evidence was with the department of botany at the University of Balochistan, Quetta (87300) collected on the rate of infection per plot, diverse modes of Pakistan and Dr. Tahir Aqil is registrar at University of Gujrat, Punjab, infection i.e. stem and branch infection and severity of Pakistan. infection. Data was documented in pre-designed Performa for

each plot discretely and subjected to statistical investigation with the software SPSS.

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III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The stems were more damaged due to fungal infection than the Heart rot fungi are the acknowledged parasites of the Ziarat branches at all the five locations. The highest fungal infection Juniper forest and in the five particular locations the strength of 47.3 and 7.33 on stem and branches respectively was and volume of impairment was calculated by applying the recorded at AZS. N and WZ showed almost equal rate of stem analysis of variance. Statistically significant variance was infection i.e. 23.66 and 23.3 respectively. Stem infection at ZJ found in the area wise mode of damage and intensity of damage was 13 the lowest of all the five selected locations, while it was by the fungal attack on the juniper trees. The micro 16.66 at SS. Branch infection was recorded to be 3.66 and 3 at environmental dissimilarities amongst the diverse sites and WZ and N respectively. Branch infection rate at AZS and N human interruption are the basic reason of variation in different was recorded to be 2.33. community’s data. The fungus is a significant pathogen of the Intensity of Damage: juniper trees and an inordinate volume of destruction is The data was also recorded on the intensity of damage i.e. some triggered by them to the forest. of the trees were damaged more than others.

Infection Percentage: Percentage of infection for each area was calculated and compared in fig. below. 60 50 40

30 20

trees 10 0

Percentage of of Percentage infected Fig. 3. Different levels of damage caused by fungal infection to the Juniper trees The uppermost average number of severely damaged 18.33 trees was at AZS. The average numbers of severely infected trees in other four locations were 9 at N, 7.33 at WZ, 5 at SS Fig. 1. Different percentages of fungal infections on trees of the five study areas. and 4.66 at ZJ. Medium infected trees at AZS were 20.33 while Sciences IJBAS-IJENS Vol: 12 No: 06 11 at WZ, 9 at Nishpa, 7.66 at SS and 6.33 at ZJ. The low level Variable fungal infection was witnessed at the five of infection at AZS was recorded 16 trees on average while it neighborhoods nonetheless with different percentages. The was 8.66 at both WZ and N, 6.33 at SS and 4.33 at Z. AZS is uppermost degree of fungal infection was near Ziarat town and human interruption in this area is documented at AZS where it was noted to be 59%, second considerably more than other villages that may be a factor highest rate of fungal infection of 35% was noted at N and WZ. contributing to high percentage of infection in this area as Fungal infection in trees of SS was recorded 31 % and at ZJ fungal attack is possible only as a result of anthropogenic and 25% trees were infected with fungi. natural injuries to the J. excelsa trees. Modes of Damage (stems, branches) by Heart rot fungi: Discussion: Discernment on approaches of impairment on trees of five It was observed that dead branch stubs, debarking, abrasions selected locations was made on the basis of infection on stems on trunks and uncovered roots etc. were common in these and on branches. The data collected is represented in the Fig. 2. infected trees as also recounted by [9]. [8], also reported heart rot fungi causing disease in J. exelsa tree stems. [3] also 50 45 reported analogous outcomes. [5] described incidence of heart 40 rot on juniper trees due to fungal pathogen. It was observed that 35 30 climate, heart rot and other diseases and anthropogenic 25 destruction of forest have a cumulative impact in the 20 Infected

15 destruction of juniper forests, which is in accord with the 10 Stems 5 studies of [6]. [5] in contrast were of view that Juniper trees

trees 0 Infected live long because these are resistant to diseases. Branch es IV. CONCLUSION The juniper forest of Ziarat is endangered due to twofold

impressions of nature and humans. Heart rot fungi enter the live Average number of infected infected of Averagenumber trees through injuries so pruning and debarking and cutting branches of trees by local community, unrestrained grazing by Fig. 2. Comparison of Mode of damage (Stem, Branch) at the selected locations

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ANOVA livestock should be essentially curtailed in order to control the Source of P- heart rots and dilapidation of timber excellence. Variation SS df MS F value F crit Sample 953.9111 4 238.4778 27.87403 0.0000 2.689632 REFERENCES Columns 41.37778 2 20.68889 2.418182 0.1062 3.315833 [1] Hadfeild J.S.1976. Judging Potential for Failure in Western Hemlock and Sitka spruce. Pp.27-30. In: Russell K., ed proceedings, Interaction 25.28889 8 3.161111 0.369481 0.9285 2.266162 24th annual western international forest disease work conference; Within 256.6667 30 8.555556 Sep. 13-17, 1976.Coos Bay, Or. Olympia, WA. Dep. Nat-Res.151p [2] Hennon , P.E,R. Mask, and E.H. Holsten 1994. Insect and disease conditions in Alaska 1994.USDA For. Ser., Anchorage, AK. Gen. Total 1277.244 44 Tech. Rep. R10-Tp-51.42p [3] Gilbertson RL, Blackwell M. 1987. Notes on wood-rotting Fungi on Junipers in the Gulf Coast Region, II. Mycotaxon (28)2 : 369-402 Salih [4] Johnson, DW. 1901. Tree hazards, recognition and reduction in Sakhobi recreation areas. USDA For. Ser.,Forest Pest Management, Denver. Tech. Rep- R2 -1.116. Count 3 3 3 9 [5] Knapp, P A. and P T. Soulé. 1999. Geographical distribution of an Sum 15 23 19 57 18th century heart rot outbreak in western juniper (Juniperus Average 5 7.666667 6.333333 6.333333 occidentalis ssp. occidentalis Hook). J. Arid Environ. 41:247–256 [6] Knapp, P A., P T. Soulé, and H D. Grissino-Mayer. 2004. Variance 3 0.333333 4.333333 3.25 Occurrence of sustained droughts in the interior Pacific Northwest (A.D. 1733–1980) inferred from tree-ring data. J. Climate 17:140– 150. Nishpa [7] Lim YW, Yeung YCA, Sturrock, Leal L & Bruel C (2005). Count 3 3 3 9 Differentiating the two Closely related species , Phellinus weirl and P. sulphurascens. Forest Pathology 35:305-314. Sum 27 27 26 80 [8] Niemela T and Ryvarden L. 1975. Studies in the Aphyllophorales of Average 9 9 8.666667 8.888889 Africa IV: Antrodia juniperina, new for East Africa. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 65:427-432. Variance 9 25 40.33333 18.61111 [9] Zakaullah, 1978, Decay in the Ziarat juniper forests of Baluchistan. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan. Pakistan-Journal-of- Forestry. 1978, 28: 1, 28-34; 2 fig., 3 tab TABLE VI AREA-WISE MO DE O F DAMAGE [10] Zakaullah, 1977 Survey of juniper dwarf mistletoe in the adjacent Ho1: No difference between column means areas of Sasnamana State Forest of Baluchistan. Pakistan For. Inst., Ho2: No difference between row means Peshawar, Pakistan. Pakistan-Journal-of-Forestry. 1977, 27: 3, 143- Ho3: No interaction between locality and mode of damage 146. Ha1: All column means are not same [11] Zakaullah and Badsha-K; 1977 Survey of juniper dwarf mistletoe in Ha2: All row means are not same Sasnamana State Forest of Baluchistan. For. Inst., Peshawar, Ha3: There is interaction between locality and mode of damage Pakistan. Pakistan-Journal-of-Forestry. 1977, 27: 1, 39-50; 4 pl. DATA [12] Zakaullah, 1977 Survey of juniper dwarf mistletoe in the adjacent MODE OF areas of Sasnamana State Forest of Baluchistan. Pakistan Forest LOCALITY DAMAGE

Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan. Pakistan-Journal-of-Forestry. 1977, STEM BRANCH 27: 3, 143-146. [13] Zakaullah, 1979 Juniper dwarf mistletoe and steepness of slope. ZANGOON JUNGLE 15 4 Pakistan Forest Inst., Peshawar, Pakistan. Pakistan-Journal-of- 12 3 Forestry. 1979, 29: 1, 51-52. 12 0 [14] Zakaullah; Badshah-K. 1977 Survey of juniper dwarf mistletoe in Sasnamana state forest of Baluchistan. Pakistan Forest Inst., Ambar Zawar Sar 39 9

Peshawar, Pakistan. Paki-stan-Journal-of-Forestry. 1977, 27: 1, 39- 48 4 50. 55 9 Apendix: WARKAI ZAZRAI 21 8 WARKAI 24 0 ZAZRAI 25 3 Count 3 3 3 9 Salih Sakhobi 17 5 Sum 22 33 26 81 14 2 Average 7.333333 11 8.666667 9 19 0 Variance 4.333333 1 2.333333 4.5 Nishpa 29 3

23 2 19 4

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ANOVA Source of WARKAI ZAZRAI Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit Count 3 3 6 Sample 1430.867 4 357.7167 25.61217 0.0000 2.866081 Sum 70 11 81 Columns 3328.533 1 3328.533 238.3198 0.0000 4.35125 Average 23.33333 3.666667 13.5 Interaction 771.1333 4 192.7833 13.8031 0.0000 2.866081 Variance 4.333333 16.33333 124.3 Within 279.3333 20 13.96667

Salih SakhobiL Total 5809.867 29 Count 3 3 6

Sum 50 7 57

Average 16.66667 2.333333 9.5 Total Variance 6.333333 6.333333 66.7

Count 15 15 15

Sum 133 163 132 Nishpa Average 8.866667 10.86667 8.8 Count 3 3 6 Variance 31.98095 32.26667 24.02857 Sum 71 9 80 Average 23.66667 3 13.33333

Anova: Two-Factor With Replication Variance 25.33333 1 138.6667

SUMMARY STEM BRANCH Total Total ZANGOON

JUNGLE Count 15 15

Count 3 3 6 Sum 372 56 Sum 39 7 46 Average 24.8 3.733333

Variance 168.3143 8.92381 Average 13 2.333333 7.666667 Variance 3 4.333333 37.06667

Ambaar Zawar Sar Count 3 3 6 Sum 142 22 164 Average 47.33333 7.333333 27.33333 Variance 64.33333 8.333333 509.0667

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