Amillaria question

[percy verance]

I know amillaria is spread via the roots of trees and the rhizomorphs but can it also be spread via the movement of infected timber once the tree has been felled?

Cheers in advance

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

It's probably a low tech and basic level offering of an answer in comparison to something that will come later, but made me think there might be an answer here:

 

file:///Users/kevinjohnsonmbe/Downloads/L6%20stuff/Honey%20Fungus%20-%20Friend%20or%20Foe%3F.webarchive

 

Edit - this link doesn't look like it'll work so try a tax dodging barstewrd's (google) search for this:

 

Honey Fungus - Friend or Foe? by Paul F Hamlyn Published in the October 2001 issue of NWFG Newsletter (ISSN 1465-8054)

 

I don't think there was an answer there but the very last entry of further information offers this:

 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/pdf/plant-health/survival-of-honey-fungus-in-wood-and-bark-chip-mul

 

Haven't read it in full but it may offer an insight?? Glad you asked because now I have to read it myself!

Edited February 11, 2016 by kevinjohnsonmbe
addition

[Gary Prentice]

Just reading the conclusion of your link Kevin, the answer is yes. Thinking about it, the normal advice is remove and destroy all infected matter (reduce the inoculum source).

[daltontrees]

It's probably a low tech and basic level offering of an answer in comparison to something that will come later, but made me think there might be an answer here:

 

file:///Users/kevinjohnsonmbe/Downloads/L6%20stuff/Honey%20Fungus%20-%20Friend%20or%20Foe%3F.webarchive

 

Edit - this link doesn't look like it'll work so try a tax dodging barstewrd's (google) search for this:

 

Honey Fungus - Friend or Foe? by Paul F Hamlyn Published in the October 2001 issue of NWFG Newsletter (ISSN 1465-8054)

 

I don't think there was an answer there but the very last entry of further information offers this:

 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/pdf/plant-health/survival-of-honey-fungus-in-wood-and-bark-chip-mul

 

Haven't read it in full but it may offer an insight?? Glad you asked because now I have to read it myself!

 

"... if gardeners chip their own woody material to use as mulch they should be very careful to choose only material that is free from honey fungus, because there is a small but measurable risk that even fragments of contaminated wood can infect plants. All parts of plants affected by honey fungus should be destroyed by burning or removing to land-fill, including as much of the root system as possible."

[percy verance]

Thanks for the replies. Glad I wasn't being a total numpty finding it hard to get a definitive answer.

The trees were felled in a wood on the side of the road, so I'm sure that the wood vultures will be helping to spread the disease now then...

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

"... if gardeners chip their own woody material to use as mulch they should be very careful to choose only material that is free from honey fungus, because there is a small but measurable risk that even fragments of contaminated wood can infect plants. All parts of plants affected by honey fungus should be destroyed by burning or removing to land-fill, including as much of the root system as possible."

 

My good friend & neighbour has a holiday park nearby, he has a "gardener" who knows everything about everything, nothing he doesn't know..... (apparently)

 

Every year the fruiting bodies multiply and spread as shown in the picture, every year he mows them with the ride-on and then carries on around the rest of the estate. It horrifies me but, since they know best, I've given up warning of the potential to infect the entire site and potentially loose some very impressive and important trees.

 

It's almost an act of criminal negligence but you can't tell people that don't want to listen!

 

AA booklet Fungi on Trees p12 says "...the fungus can spread from colonised stumps and roots to surrounding trees, particularly if there is a lack of natural suppression, in the form of fallen deadwood, colonised by other (beneficial) decay fungi performing natural control..."

 

I've tried to convince my mate to instal some piles of deadwood to encourage other fungi as it decomposes and see if there is any suppression of the ever increasing Honey fungus fruiting bodies - they're not interested, it's just got to be plain old cut grass because it "looks tidy and well maintained."

[Gary Prentice]

Thanks for the replies. Glad I wasn't being a total numpty finding it hard to get a definitive answer.

The trees were felled in a wood on the side of the road, so I'm sure that the wood vultures will be helping to spread the disease now then...

 

With armillaria being so omnipresent, is it of that much concern? Opinions anyone? Unless you've loads of low vitality, unhealthy trees and a poor rhizosphere.

Edited February 12, 2016 by Gary Prentice
Qualifying the question

[percy verance]

Omnipresent, good word! this was my thought, I could sell the wood to a chap that will store it in his yard for 12 months that doesn't have any trees nearby, potentially letting the armillaria die off, or have people help themselves and take it straight to their house and store it next to their 150 year old beech tree, spreading the disease. hypothetically any way.