A sticky situation over a Ganoderma.

[Woody22]

I’m currently a student studying arboriculture and was wondering if I could ask you guys to answer a question for my research into Ganoderma fungal brackets and how they affect the tree.

Below is a Ganoderma resinaceum that I found, on a mature oak tree in a back garden. The tree is showing slight signs of dieback in the upper canopy but overall looks healthy with good size and shape providing high amenity for the surrounding houses. No other brackets are on this tree and the soil around the tree is in good condition and well watered with little competition for light or nutrients. There is space around the tree for an easy felling job (no green houses or ponds to destroy) with good access via road for removal. If the tree fell it could damage a house if fell in the wrong direction but the owners want the opinion of an arborist over the matter.

What would your response be to seeing this Ganoderma on the tree and the detail provided?

1. Fell

2. Canopy reduction of the tree to remove deadwood or

3. Test the tree for rot using resistograph or other such equipment

4. Leave the tree but continue to inspect for further signs of dieback or other symptoms over the next few years

5. Take other action (please provide details)

 

Cheers lads

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Schwarze puts this fungi in the middle ground between the aggressive Ganoderma australe and the passive saprobic Ganoderma applanatum. I have had some experience of this one personally and its decay pattern is interesting, and somewhat dangerous IMO.

 

if the tree is dying back this is IME a sign the fungus is well into the roots and I would reccomend some decay detection before making any further comments, this is one scenario where i would lok to a thermo assesment, because it is the only easy way of seeing the viability and health of the trees zylem functions

[Harrison2604]

Schwarze puts this fungi in the middle ground between the aggressive Ganoderma australe and the passive saprobic Ganoderma applanatum. I have had some experience of this one personally and its decay pattern is interesting, and somewhat dangerous IMO.

 

if the tree is dying back this is IME a sign the fungus is well into the roots and I would reccomend some decay detection before making any further comments, this is one scenario where i would lok to a thermo assesment, because it is the only easy way of seeing the viability and health of the trees zylem functions

 

I wish I was as knowledgeable as you when it comes to Fungi Hama. You inspire me you really do. I wasn't well educated with Fungi but I'm trying my very best to catch up with people such as you!

 

To me, this looks like the G. pfeifferi? but it's not?

 

Especially by this picture anyway...

[Woody22]

I wish I was as knowledgeable as you when it comes to Fungi Hama. You inspire me you really do. I wasn't well educated with Fungi but I'm trying my very best to catch up with people such as you!

 

To me, this looks like the G. pfeifferi? but it's not?

 

Especially by this picture anyway...

 

personaly, i would agree, im pritty sure its pfeifferi, but one way to check this is take a lighter and burn the top of the bracket, if the top bubbles and looks like its melting, that would confurm it. a quick trick my lecture taught me.

[Harrison2604]

personaly, i would agree, im pritty sure its pfeifferi, but one way to check this is take a lighter and burn the top of the bracket, if the top bubbles and looks like its melting, that would confurm it. a quick trick my lecture taught me.

 

Hama's the expert! Didn't know about that..., can you confirm hama?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I wish I was as knowledgeable as you when it comes to Fungi Hama. You inspire me you really do. I wasn't well educated with Fungi but I'm trying my very best to catch up with people such as you!

 

To me, this looks like the G. pfeifferi? but it's not?

 

Especially by this picture anyway...

thanks man, as for this gano it is as you suspect pfiefferi:thumbup1:

 

 

personaly, i would agree, im pritty sure its pfeifferi, but one way to check this is take a lighter and burn the top of the bracket, if the top bubbles and looks like its melting, that would confurm it. a quick trick my lecture taught me.

 

resinaceum does the same!

 

Hama's the expert! Didn't know about that..., can you confirm hama?

 

see above

[Woody22]

just been out to test this theory on a resinaceum, i tryed it on one bracket that was confirmed resinaceum and it reacted by glazing over and smelling of burn sugar and other sweet things. The bracket pictured above just burnt! my theory is that i have either got the bracket identifyed wrong or the age of the bracket effects the effects the quality. any suggestiong hama?

does you also specialise in such decay techniques and mycology because those are the fields i am very interested in and any advise for entering those fields would be useful.

[Harrison2604]

just been out to test this theory on a resinaceum, i tryed it on one bracket that was confirmed resinaceum and it reacted by glazing over and smelling of burn sugar and other sweet things. The bracket pictured above just burnt! my theory is that i have either got the bracket identifyed wrong or the age of the bracket effects the effects the quality. any suggestiong hama?

does you also specialise in such decay techniques and mycology because those are the fields i am very interested in and any advise for entering those fields would be useful.

 

You didn't get the ident wrong, It is a G. pfeifferi

[Woody22]

You didn't get the ident wrong, It is a G. pfeifferi

 

haha this just complicates matters cos i think its a Ganoderma resinaceum,

[Woody22]

haha this just complicates matters cos i think its a Ganoderma resinaceum,

 

sorry, i meant the picture of the bracket at the top, not the fine specimin you presented