Keizer's Fungi Q & A.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

1. Concerning Acer, Fraxinus, Ilex, Juglans, Robinia, Malus, Juniperus, Sambucus and Sorbus being listed as ectomycorrhizal too, an answer to the following question should be given : what validated evidence is documented from both in situ and in vitro research on both the ectomycorrhizal structures surrounding the roots and the fruiting of the ectomycorrhizal macrofungi concerned and what species of ectomycorrhizal macrofungi have been linked to what tree species ?

2. Just as there is still debate on whether only a few Entoloma species such as E. clypeatum, E. aprile and E. saundersii are ectomycorrhizal species associated with Crataegus and Ulmus, the same goes for Prunus (and Crataegus) being associated with E. sepium. In my opinion and based on my own research on E. saundersii and Ulmus, I think it's highly improbable, because the energy consuming fruiting of the quite big FB's of these Entoloma's takes place in spring, i.e. at the same time as the tree develops its leaves and buds for blossoming for which a lot of sugars are needed, i.e. energy which the tree can not afford to share with the symbiont this time of year.

3. To the list of trees being both endo- and ectomycorrhizal "at different stages" such as Salix, Alnus and Populus, Betula should also be added, because the seedlings of all four pioneer tree species (mostly) depend on generalistic endomycorrhizal microfungi, followed by more or less tree species specific ectomycorrhizal macrofungi in the later phases of the tree species specific life cycles.

4. Concerning the Swedish research by Lena Jonsson about "seedlings regenerating in the forest" forming mycorrhizae with "whatever fungi there are in the area" and "late stage" ectomycorrhizae "colonizing saplings in healthy mixed aged forest", this can only be valid, if one implies, that the mycelia of the "late stage" ectomycorrhizal macrofungi are for the greater part connected to and for their sugars totally dependend on the roots of trees, which are in later phases of their life cycles, because fruiting of the ectomycorrhizal macrofungi with energy absorbing FB's from the roots of the seedlings alone would immediately kill the young tree. And she does not take the differences between tree species specific reproduction and regeneration strategies into account, with trees with big seeds with 2-5 years energy reserve at one side, and trees with small wind transported seeds at the other.

 

Thats a good post! going have to read that a few times over!

[David Humphries]

Gerrit, here's a little oddity.

 

Armillaria on Birch from Whippendell Woods last autumn.

 

 

What's causing the bifurcated fruiting ?

 

Is it a genetic mutation or something else?

 

thanks David

 

 

 

.

[Amelanchier]

Dear Mr Keizer,

 

Please could you adjuciate on a 'difference' of opinion between me and a colleague - is there a likely mycological agent for the lesions and splits presenting on this Beech? It is adjacent to an arable field, has no visible fruiting bodies at the base but has very limited leaf formation this year.

 

Many thanks in advance!

[Fungus]

Armillaria on Birch from Whippendell Woods last autumn. What's causing the bifurcated fruiting ? Is it a genetic mutation or something else?

 

Something else. It is a "Siamese twins" or "joined from the hips" kind of merging of stems inside the primordium, which later on, as the FB's (of Armillaria mellea s.s.) stretch out, develop to normal fertile "heads" or caps, a phenomenon that is not only documented from Agaricales, but also from Phallus impudicus developing two "heads" on one merged stem from inside one witches' egg.

[David Humphries]

Something else. It is a "Siamese twins" kind of merging of stems inside the primordium, which later on, as the FB's (of Armillaria mellea s.s.) stretch out, develop to normal fertile "heads" or caps, a phenomenon that is not only documented from Agaricales, but also from Phallus impudicus developing two "heads" on one merged stem from inside one witches' egg.

 

 

 

 

Thank you Gerrit.

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Fungus]

could you adjuciate on a 'difference' of opinion between me and a colleague - is there a likely mycological agent for the lesions and splits presenting on this Beech? It is adjacent to an arable field, has no visible fruiting bodies at the base but has very limited leaf formation this year.

 

Tony,

A close up of the lesions and splits would be welcome. Is f.i. black fluid coming out of the smaller splits ? On beech at this height it mostly is caused by (the rhizomorphs or mycelia of) a parasitic Armillaria species, but it can also be associated with Meripilus giganteus or K. deusta.

[Amelanchier]

Thanks Gerrit, I'll ask for a close up. There was no current bleeds associated with any of the lesions and most (at least the lower visible ones) were callused over underneath the split periderm.

[Fungus]

There was no current bleeds associated with any of the lesions and most (at least the lower visible ones) were callused over underneath the split periderm.

 

The long vertical splits in the periderm can be a symptom of hightened local sap wood ring formation (striae) to strenghten or repair beginning lesions in the central wood column caused by strong side winds and/or (in combination with) changes in the flexibility-stiffness ratio by white rotters.

[RobArb]

So what's going on here then?

 

 

 

Sent from Rob's GalaxySII

[RobArb]

One more

 

Sent from Rob's GalaxySII