Mycological Tree Assessment (MTA)

[Fungus]

so how come Alnus (another short life cycle) are further down the list behind Populus and Salix?

 

Because Alnus, which can, depending on the habitat, have a life cycle up to twice or three times as long as Betula, has different needs as far as nitrogen from the soil is concerned, as it with the help of bacteria produces its own, and Alnus has tree species specific ectomycorrhizal symbionts of the Genus Alnicola (= Naucoria), which mycelia can survive in anaerobic environments, i.e. under water, because they get their oxygen supply directly from the roots they have colonized with their ectomycorrhizae.

So only middle aged and older alders need a few tree species specific ectomycorrhizal macrofungi, such as Gyrodon lividus and some Russula and Lactarius species, to supply the tree and its ecosystem with nutrients, where Betula, especially on poor soils, has/needs to have many more at its disposal from "adolescense" to old age, which by the way in Sweden can be well over a hundred years.

Edited May 16, 2011 by Fungus

[RobArb]

awesome, keep it coming:thumbup:

[Fungus]

First a photo of the necrotic and poorly regenerating unusual "smooth" bark of a Douglas with the mycelium of Phaeolus schweinitzii active in the cambium of its major roots and lower trunk and second a photo of a larch in the second phase of completely loosing bark and forming ineffective wound repairs, because of also being attacked by P. schweinitzii.

This type of bark "body language" of Larix and Pseudotsuga can also originate from attacks by the mycelium of Sparassis crispa, as I for both species of fungi have documented several times with the fruiting at the base of the affected tree as evidence.

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Also see my : Fungus album : Phaeolus schweinitzii + Sparassis crispa for more photo's.

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[Fungus]

Another MTA case study of three trees of differing species and their associations with ectomycorrhizal (Quercus, Fagus) or endomycorrhizal (Acer) symbionts.

 

Some years ago, I was asked to assess the causes of the rapidly declining condition of an about 80 years old solitary Acer saccharinum standing in a corner of a lawn in a park (in the drawing to the left side).

The tree had for its second year in a row started withdrawing chlorophyl from its leaves in July with yellowing or browning and early fall of the leaves as a result. Although the tree roots in situ seemed to have sufficient access to rain and/or ground water (shallow pond on top of the drawing), the tree looked dehydrated.

 

For the assessment and diagnosis, which took place early September, the following steps were taken.

 

- Samples of the soil were taken and analysed.

- An inventory of the ectomycorrhizal macrofungi present showed 3 fully developed FB's of Scleroderma citrinum, one close to the base of the trunk of the Acer and two at the other side of the asphalt footpath. In a zone in the middle between the about 80 years old beech (top right in the drawing) and the Acer, several FB's of Laccaria laccata s.s. were present. To the left of this zone, most of the grass had died and was replaced by mosses.

- Five samples of the finer roots of the Acer were taken, one half way and one close to the bushes of Symphoricarpos albus (top of the drawing), one close to the right side of the tree, one underneath the patch with mosses and one in the zone dominated by Laccaria laccata. Only the two samples closest to the tree showed occupation of the roots by endomycorrhizae. Of the other samples, two were lacking endomycorrhiza, with the roots in the sample from underneath the moss patch also being partially dried out and there were no Acer roots present in the Laccaria dominated zone.

- Taking samples from the roots linked to the Scleroderma's showed they were associated with roots of the also about 80 years old Quercus rubra (drawing to the right), which had sent out its roots far from its trunk to the "west" passing underneath the asphalt path and reaching up to 30 centimetres of the base of the trunk of the Acer to collect rain water running down from its trunk.

- Taking samples of the roots linked to the mycelia of the Laccaria showed roots coming from two sides, from the "north east" a dense mass of superficial beech roots and from the "south east" a few deeper below ground level roots of the Quercus rubra, which had also passed the asphalt path in "north western" direction.

 

Conclusions.

- The Acer had only been able to collect water and nutrients at two sides close to the "north" and "east" of the tree, i.e. only where the roots were colonized by endomycorrhizal microfungi.

- The roots could not reach the water in the pond, because they were blocked by the root systems of the Symphoricarpos bushes, which competed with the Acer for endomycorrhizal symbionts.

- Underneath the patch of mosses, both the grass roots and the Acer roots were dying as a result of an "undecided" territorial war for endomycorrhizal symbionts between the grasses and the tree.

- The Laccaria mycelium zone was dominated by the Fagus and Quercus roots, which made an invasion of the endomycorrhiza dependend Acer roots impossible.

- Even rain water falling and running down from the crown and the trunk of the Acer was partially tapped by roots of the Quercus rubra.

 

Because the Quercus rubra already had been pollarded 3 years before and the Symphoricarpos bushes were not part of the original design of the park, both the tree and the bushes were removed, the asphalt path to the "south" and "west" of the Acer was reallocated and the sandy soil surrounding the Acer was opened up (oxygen) and fertilized. The follow up after 3 and 5 years showed a tree in much better condition with roots colonized by endomycorrhizal symbionts on all sides of the tree, which were after 5 years even reaching the waterfront of the pond.

[Fungus]

The map.

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[sloth]

Wow, very interesting, have only just discovered this thread, but will definitely be following it now. Thanks for taking the time.

[Fungus]

As a generalistic ectomycorrhizal symbiont, Paxillus involutus accompanies both young trees (childhood, adolescence) and old trees, which slowly deteriorate (old age) and as a temporary in between strategy still has not lost its ability to live for some time as a saprotrophic decomposer of dead wood awaiting colonizing the roots of a new symbiotic tree partner.

 

Paxillus involutus fruiting as a saprotrophic from the inside heart wood of a dead branch.

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[Fungus]

This type of bark "body language" of Pseudotsuga can also originate from attacks by the mycelium of Sparassis crispa, as I have documented several times with the fruiting at the base of the affected tree as evidence.

 

Documentation of panic fruiting of Sparassis crispa after its host - a Douglas - was felled last year.

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[crackfox]

is it eadable?

[Tom Joye]

Gerrit,

 

I understand the concept of 'panic fruiting' and in the case of the Sparassis it is obvious. But how can a FB be recognised as 'panic fruiting'. Or can you only tell if you have the whole picture (tree+fungus+environment).

Cheers,

Tom

 

ps: just signed up for the mini-symposium in Meerssen in Octobre, looking forward to it