Fungus

Some examples of Ganoderma lipsiense on beech. The first photo is of an old bracket forming smaller wavy brackets at the edge of the old FB. The following two photo's are of the impressive number (and size) of perennial brackets formed on the remains of an old beech., which clearly shows, that G. lipsiense is a necrotrophic parasite. ---

Tony, Not very likely in those days in Belgium or The Netherlands, see : Old grafted notary beeches.

1. Neither do I, I was merely adding information, but to elaborate a bit more on the subject, it's because mycelia of ectomycorrhizal macrofungi need 20 % more oxygen then tree roots do, they are the first "victims" of compaction, long lasting drought or drawning because of permanent high water table levels. Once they die, the soil food web is out of balance and because the tree roots go unprotected, ever present root parasites, such as Meripilus giganteus, (rhizomorphs of) parasitic Armillaria species (this year after last years drought frequently present), or Pholiota squarrosa, get a chance to attack the root system of the tree and to "rise up" in the living tissues of the trunk. 2. Here I also see no dispute, although I prefer using the term balanced parasitism over mutualism or symbioses. And with co-operation, I meant that the mycelia of ectomycorrhizal macrofungi are the transporters and suppliers of basic minerals and spore elements, the "chemical factory" in the trunk base, together with the photosynthates, turns into or "rebuilds" as assimilates, hormones and DNA to defend the tree with and to grow and reproduce itself. 3. How can (endo)mycorrhizae be positively toxic to "lower" green plants, as over 90 % of them needs to bond with endomycorrhizal microfungi to enlarge their root system and provide them with water and nutrients needed for growth and reproduction ? In this respect, bare in mind, that endomycorrhizal microfungi only use a very low percentage of the carbohydrates and sugars produced by the plants to grow (hyphae) and reproduce by direct (a-sexual) forming of spores on minimal reproductive structures on the hyphae connected to the roots, so both plants and microfungi don't have to invest in energy consuming above ground FB's as is the case with ectomycorrhizal macrofungi and the trees they associate with. A good example of an almost complete take over by a species specific mycorrhizal fungus is found in Ericaceae, where instead of cellulose and lignin, the chitin rich hyphae of the fungus for up to 70 % make up the material of the above and underground woody structures of the plant.

Tony, I've monitored this tree, which is one of the six remaining Dutch Liriodendron's of this age after a seventh solitary one was struck by lightning and split in half some years ago, since 1996, and there has never been any fruiting of any parasitic (P. squarrosa), nor saprotrophic (L. tigrinus) macrofungus. Besides, in The Netherlands, P. squarrosa has never been documented of Acer (yet) and L. tigrinus is restriced to dead wood (stumps, horizontal trunks with soil contact) of Salix, Fraxinus and Fagus with a special liking for (pollard) willows growing in tide woodlands. From the old Liriodendron at an estate alongside the river Donk in Breda, I have documented a nasty infection with (rhizomorphs of) Armillaria mellea, which it probably will not survive on the long run.

Tom, So you assume the beeches were "born" there ?

Paul, Once the hyphae of Ustulina invade the cambium of a beech, it can also produce small cracks in the bark at the base of or higher up the trunk, from which a black ooze is secreted.

1. The mycelia of ectomycorrhizal macrofungi are far more aerobic then tree roots are, they need about 20 % more oxygen to grow and thrive. There's just one exception to this rule, formed by the ectomycorrhizal pioneer Alnicola (= Naucoria) species, of which the hyphae can grow under anaerobic circumstances, because they get their oxygen delivered "from within" by the roots of the tree they colonize itself. Alnicola species mainly specialize on Alnus species, but some also colonize Betula and Salix species, tree species, which partially can form roots under extreme wet soil conditions or even below water level. 2. The supressive exudates you mention are not primary photosynthates, but secundary assimilates produced in cooperation and contact with mycorrhizal fungi in the "chemical factory" in the base of the trunk of the tree, from where they are not only transported to the rhizosphere, but also to the above ground parts of the tree, including the leaves to protect them against gluttonous insects or leave moulds and the living tissues of the trunk and branches to protect them against attacks by parasitic fungi invading wounds.

What about this tree species specific petrified Porcelain fungus up an old beech ? It was fitted as an isolator to the tree about 80 years ago to hold electric wiring for lights attached to trees in the lanes of an old estate to guide the night tours by horse carriages. ---

A pair of beeches "joined at the groin", with the left one "begging" for a bit of a kiss. The beeches are part of a lane of the old Einde Gooi estate (Hollandsche Rading) with bi- to threefold furcated trees with lots of branch bridges interconnecting them and keeping them upright. ---

With great pleasure, I share my acquaintance with this Dutch over 150 years old Liriodendron tulipifera with its impressive union-shaped trunk base, it probably developed, because it was planted at the edge of a pond with permanent high waterlevels. The base of the tree meanwhile has incorporated the trunk of a much younger beech. It's a major feature of an English landscape park behind the Groeneveld castle in Baarn. In the front park of the estate, there also is a small "forest" of somewhat younger Liriodendrons. ---

1. I wonder whether you read all my posts on forest ecology, the dynamics of tree species specific ecosystems, tree species specific life cycles and soil food webs, including mycorrhizal fungi, on this forum, because otherwise I can't understand how you could have come to the conclusion, that my philosophies, ideas or "ideals" are "incongruent and not inherently "ecological" in that they are focussed on a particular bent and a particular organism" and that "The observations that you have recorded only point to a single factor of the health of Gaia." Although I'm well aware of the complexity of the soil food web, I completely disagree on the "submissive" role you claim the macro- and micro fungi to play. If the fungal participants in the soil food webs and tree species specific ecosystems would not have the upper hand or would not be in control, the ecosystem and its soil food web would be totally out of balance and their would be no diversity or health of other organisms at all. Parasitic (macro)fungi are the regulators and process accelerators of tree species specific ecosystems in eliminating trees becoming parasites of their own tree species specific ecosystem, because they - because of health problems or old age - changed the balance from being a 60 % provider ("sugar daddy") of energy to all other organisms involved, to less then 40 %, which process would end in total loss of the ecosystem if the parasitism of the tree on the ecosystem was not stopped (in time). And there are even macrofungi, such as Pleurotus ostreatus, Hohenbuehelia species and anamorphs of Orbilia species, of which the mycelia form special sticky buds of lasso's to catch and devour parasitic nematodes with. Saprotrophic (macro)fungi are the recylers of all organic material coming from trees, including the lignin, which can not be decomposed by other organisms, and with this keep the food or energy chain of the ecosystem intact. And last but not least, the (ecto)mycorrhizal (macro)fungi are the providers, go betweens or intermediaries and defenders of the trees in protecting (antibiotics, fungicides) the roots they colonize, enlarging the root system with a factor 1.000 to 2.000 with their mycelia, with which they transport and deliver water and nutrients or minerals (phosphor) to the trees and uptake and store toxics, such as heavy metals and salt, in parts of the mycelium, which are then disconnected from the root system of the tree. Recent research has shown, that trees share the most carbohydrates with ectomycorrhizal macrofungi delivering the most phosphor needed for reproduction (DNA) of the tree, and the ectomycorrhizal symbionts "feed" the most nutrients, including phosphor, to trees giving the most carbohydrates in return. 2. That's why I emphasize the importance of "copying" as much of the tree species specific ecosystem possible in the living environment of urban trees, and stress, that one has to return to the natural forests of tree species specific ecosystems and their habitats and niches, to understand the problems our "managed" forests and urban trees experience, because of the far from complete ecosystems they have to live by and with in our well paved and water and air polluted towns and cities. 3. Really ? So the above (and underground : truffles) fruiting and reproduction of ectomycorrhizal macrofungi is a sign, that all the other organisms, which are part of the tree species specific ecosystem and soil food web, aren't doing their jobs very well (or aren't there) ?

Billy, See my post on Meripilus.

Tom, I think the first FB's are either partially a sterile or an anamorph reproductive form (Ceriomyces aurantiacus), mostly originating from diminishing local "food supply" for the mycelium and the second photo shows normal fruiting because of local abundance of cellulose to "consume" by the part of the mycelium present in another compartiment of wood of the same tree.

Another example of this phenomenon, a perennial bracket of Fomes fomentarius, of which the last formed tube layer was already receding before the birch broke and fell down because of the intensive white rot of the central wood column, leaving not enough cellulose behind to restart the mycelium to produce new layers. ---

Tom, I assume, Meripilus by now is in it's phase where it has undermined the root plate and is ready to go "underground" for several years (see : my post on the Meripilus "fairy tale"). To determine whether the beech is entering the final phase of its reproductive life cycle, check for superficial adventitious rooting around the trunk base and for Laccaria amethystina fruiting from them. Also look for the presence or absence of tree species specific ectomycorrhizal macrofungi (Amanita phalloides, A. citrina, Russula fellea, R. mairei, Lactarius blennius, L. subdulcis) and the substition of specilialized by generalistic symbionts, such as Scleroderma citrinum, Russula parazurea, R. ochroleuca and Paxillus involutus. The panic fruiting of the tree with sterile fruits (70 % sterile, 30 % fertile), because of an increasing lack of phosphor, for the greater part "delivered" by tree species specific Lactarius and Russula species, seems to be the first indication of the tree entering the phase of old age. By the way, how old is this beech ?

Ross, See Pest report Phytophthora ramorum on Fagus sylvatica pdf.document.

Which is true for both necrotrophic parasitic Armillaria species, i.e. A. mellea and A. ostoyae, but not for the saprotrophic A. lutea.

There's a difference between (slow) evolution and (quicker) adaptation to sudden and/or dramatically changing circumstances.

Which is correct.

Ben, If it is Armillaria, be aware of the risk of spreading through root-root contact by rhizomorphs growing up to one metre a year in a straight line towards damaged roots "attracted" by regenerating roottips secreting growth hormones.

Steve, 1. That's why I put "mourning", "buriel site" and "graveyard" between "...", meaning "as if" or "not to be taken literally", because using mourning without ''.." to describe the behavior of elephants or orka's would be a form of anthropomorphism, just as saying an orangutan laying his arm around the shoulder of Willie Smits being capable of empathy or consoling a sad "old human friend" is, as he does in his documentaries. 2. And there you would have had a point, if I hadn't withdrawn this link myself, because I (too late) looked at the "home" of the site, although nothing much different from the article in New Scientist was stated under this hilarious title .

In The Netherlands, together with Sparassis crispa, P. schweinitzii is the most detrimental on Pseudotsuga menziessi followed by Larix kaempferi, not indigenous tree species, which were planted in mono culture stands about one hundred years ago, lacking most of their original tree species specific ecosystems and tree species specific ectomycorrhizal symbionts to protect their roots against both indigenous parasitic brown rotters. Also see My album on Phaeolus schweinitzii & Sparassis crispa.

1. Agreed, especially because no ascospores were found in the teleomorph, which is rather odd, because if present, they are hard to overlook, as they are dark brown, ellipsoid, have a split to one side and are 32-33 x 7-8 µm. 2. First try to get a copy of K. Weber & C. Mattheck (2001). Taschenbuch der Holzfäulen in Baum.

1. Come and have a look at our poplars colonized by Pholiota populnea, our elms by Hypsizygus ulmarius and Polyporus squamosus, our apple trees by Inonotus hispidus, Pholiota aurivella and Polyporus varius and our Acer and Pterocarya by Polyporus squamosus and Pleurotus dryinus, after their wounds had been treated some 15 years ago with sealants such as topsin, creating a perfect micro-climate for germination of always and everywhere present fungal spores. 2. Not just chemicals, rhizomorphs of Armillaria species are capable of altering radio-active material (Tsjernobyl) in such a way, that the energy stored in the caesium partially is set free to be used by the mycelium as a "nutrient" for development of new mycelial structures. And some species like Bjerkandera adusta, Hypholoma fasciculare and Mycena galericulata, are capable of producing chemicals such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons or organohalogens themselves to decompose wood with.

Cassian, With Guy leaving for New Zealand, I'm re-entering this thread and am again available for "armchair" consultation. Can you answer this before asked question for me first ?