Tree Decay Fungi Chelsi Abbott, MSc The Davey Tree Expert Company Overview

• Dangers in Tree Care Industry • What are fungi? • Why decay fungi are important • Different groups • Specific types of decay & wood decay fungi Why the Concern? 153 tree care related incidents in 2016 (TCIA)

Tree Failure can Harm: • People • Utility Lines • Buildings • Vehicles Fungi

• Eukaryotic • Non-photosynthetic • Decompose and absorb organic matter

• Mushrooms, mold, mildews, rusts etc. Fungi • Beneficial fungi • Damaging fungi ✓Crucial to the life cycle of the forest Three components of Disease

1. Host 3. Environmental conditions

2. Pathogen Disease Triangle

Pathogen Host Disease

Environment Wood Decay Fungi

Two main groups: • Basidiomycetes: • Most common group of fungi for wood decay. • They have mushrooms/conks as fruiting bodies

• Ascomycetes: • Second most common group of fungi, with only a few wood rotter's. • Small, irregular fruiting bodies Signs vs. Symptoms

A sign is physical A symptom is the plants evidence of a causal reaction/expression to the agent infection • Mushroom • Chlorosis • Spores • Leaf spot • Death of tissue Tree Decay Fungi:

• Mushroom and conks are obvious sign • Some trees do not show above ground symptoms

• Significantly affect the health and structural integrity of the tree • Create hazardous trees- our goal is to protect people and property Just because you don’t see…

…doesn’t mean it’s not there! Things to look for:

• Fungal fruiting bodies: • Conks, mushrooms, etc. • Canopy decline - if canopy is declining it could be a problem from below • Remember! A full canopy does not mean structurally sound! Symptoms associated with wood rots • Crown dieback • Leaf chlorosis and necrosis • Wood rot • Bark peeling away • Discolouration of bark • Eventual death 3 Types of Wood Decay White rot • Most common decay fungi - • Leave behind white residue Brown rot • More frequently found on • Leave behind brown residue Soft rot • Not visibly different than brown or white rot in living trees Types of Wood Decay

White rot: • Leaves a white or bleached appearance to wood • Wood feels moist, soft and spongy • Degrade lignin (constituent of cell walls) & erode cellulose

• Significant strength loss only in more advanced stages of decay • Example: Armillaria spp. Types of Wood Decay Brown Rot: • More frequently found in conifers than hardwoods • Brown, brittle lignin • Decays cellulose and hemicellulose

• Significant amount of strength loss in initial stages of decay • Example: Chicken of the Types of Wood Decay

Soft Rot: • Attacks cellulose • Attacks links between cell walls and lignin

• Loss in wood structural quality • Example: Kretzschmaria deusta How Do Wood Rots Gain Entry?

• Stressed trees • Construction damage • Soil compaction • Mechanical damage • Insect/animal damage Important Wood Decay Fungi

• Armillaria Spp. • Spp.- Artist’s conk & Varnish conk • sulphureus - Chicken of the woods • Inonotus dryadeus • Xylaria polymorpha - Dead Man’s Fingers • Kretzschmaria deusta Armillaria Root Rot

Hosts: Many deciduous trees and conifers

• Also called: Shoe-string rot and Honey mushrooms • Multiple • Infects stressed trees through wounds • Can infect roots via rhizomorphs

• Aggressive 3 Signs of Armillaria Not to be confused with…

Velvet shank www.gallowaywildfoods.com Jack o’ lantern Ganoderma applanatum Hosts: Most hardwoods, , , etc.

• Also known as “Artist’s conk” • Perennial conk • Infect via wounds • Decay can extend 1-2ft above and below conk • White rot

• Aggressive Ganoderma applanatum Ganoderma applanatum- Artist’s Conk

G. Jones

Hosts: Most hardwoods, honey locust, Maples, oaks…

• Also known as ‘Varnish Conk’ • Annual conk • Kills cambial tissue of roots • White rot

• Moderately aggressive Ganoderma lucidum Chicken of the Woods

(Laetiporus sulphureus) Hosts: Most hardwoods, oaks, black cherry, etc.

• Choice edible • Fruiting body emerges from summer to fall • Brown rot • Causes extensive decay Chicken of the woods Hen of the woods • Hosts: Hardwoods, predominately oaks

• Choice edible • Fruiting body emerges from September to October Theforagerpress.com • White rot • Weak pathogen Inonotus dryadeus

Hosts: Hardwoods, Oaks, etc.

• Also known as ‘weeping conk’ • Annual but persistent • Slow progressing white rot • Excessive decay could mean trees are at risk for windthrow

• Found at crown (close to ground) or on roots Inonotus dryadeus Dead Man’s Fingers

(Xylaria polymorpha) Hosts: Hardwoods including Maples and

• Black finger-like structures (stomata) appear in spring • White rot of base and roots • Can kill cambium • Only attack stressed trees Dead Man’s Fingers General Wood Rot Management

• No management available once infected • Destroy fungal fruiting bodies

• Avoid wounding the tree • General plant health care Things to take home

• Always ask if you’re not sure

• Presence of a conk is (usually) a bad sign

• Just because there isn’t a fruiting body, doesn’t mean there isn’t decay