Decay in root area with no signs in trunk...

[Xerxses]

I was sent a question today about fungus...

I thought I would pass it on to you guys!

 

"Does some wood fungi affect the rootsystem and damages them in such an extent that the tree might fall over without the stem being hollow or obviously decayed?"

 

I couldn't answer that rightaway! Whats your experience?

 

I tried to translate the question as close as possible to the original wording...;

"Does certain wood fungi damage roots of trees so that fungus infected trees are likely to fall even though the stem is not hollow or showing decomposed wood?"

 

Which fungus would it be?

 

Does anyone have pictures?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Most of the root decays will show up as dysfunctional/decayed wood if only as a very small cone shaped zone usualy around a metre from ground level.

 

The ganodermas will obviously show decay well into the trunk, its the Collybias, the meripilus that hide well, Inonotus can be tricky to see in the ealry stages.

 

Suggest you check out two or three threads in the fungal section.

[Alinicoll]

I`ve certainly see a beech fall over, presumably from Meripilus, with no signs of crown dieback, swelling or anything. Just no roots left. It was a big beech too.

[Xerxses]

Thanks for quick reply!

I was hoping for pictures of trees that have fallen over with no obvious signs of decay in trunk...

 

Dont know what to search for, any suggestions in forums?

 

I know a fair bit about fungus and all, but really it comes down to the essence in this question " Can the roots of trees be affected by fungus in such a way that the tree might fall over without obvious signs of decay in the trunk"

[Xerxses]

I`ve certainly see a beech fall over, presumably from Meripilus, with no signs of crown dieback, swelling or anything. Just no roots left. It was a big beech too.

 

Any pictures?

 

How big was it?

Mature, young etc....

Any holes, hollowness?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Any pictures?

 

How big was it?

Mature, young etc....

Any holes, hollowness?

 

this subjects well covered in THE FUNGI section!

 

thats what those old threads are there for, as reference material.

[Xerxses]

Ah finally found the relevant threads!

Great ones too!!!

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/tree-health-care/3877-collybia-fusipes.html

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/tree-health-care/13243-merrip-beech.html

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/tree-health-care/13345-another-merrip-thread.html

 

Missed them somehow:001_rolleyes:

 

Thanks Tony:thumbup: (They were under the TREE HEALTH CARE section....)

Edited January 26, 2010 by Xerxses