Ganoderma applanatum Dead or Alive?

[stevelucocq]

hi,

 

I have come across a Beech tree with a few Ganoderma Applanatum brackets around the buttress (Sorry no pics). I am sure it is Ganoderma as when the bracket is cut there are white mycelial strips through dark brown flesh and is typical ganoderma shape. Anyhow the underneath of the bracket is dark and looks inactive. Does this mean the brackets have died and the tree has managed to compartmentalise the invading fungus or is the fungus just dormant? Thanks for any help cheers steve

[Bundle 2]

You will quite often find with this fungus that friuting bodies appear to simply "dry up " only for new brackets to emerge elsewhere that produce spores as normal. If the tree has successfully compartmentalised the infection then it would not appear elsewhere in all likihood....I am not entirely sure to be honest. I do know that Ganoderma spp can take some considerable time to become established in the host and may well have to compete against fungi with more "effective " mechanisms of establishment in comparison. Whether or not this contributes to the apparent dormancy..again I'm not entirely sure!!!??

[Will Hinchliffe]

I have been told that if the fruiting body is cold to the touch on the underside its alive.

 

If you come to the conclusion that the fruiting body is dead what can you learn about the progress of the decay from this?

[Rebecca Harrison]

Hi Generally if the underside of the ganoderma is dark it is no longer alive. As a previous answer said you will probably get some fresh ones growing, however if you get no more then the ganoderma has in fact been compartmentalised and has run out of suitable feeding material.

[Will Hinchliffe]

Thats cool I always assumed the compartmentalisation would be overcome by the ganoderma eventually rather than the tree managing to contain and starve it. Thanks.

[David Humphries]

Hi Generally if the underside of the ganoderma is dark it is no longer alive. As a previous answer said you will probably get some fresh ones growing, however if you get no more then the ganoderma has in fact been compartmentalised and has run out of suitable feeding material.

 

You da girl Becca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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