Pinus & Heterobasidion annosum thread

[Fungus]

Documentation of the effect on Pinus sylvestris of the white rot at and below ground level in the trunk base and buttresses caused by the mycelium of Heterobasidion annosum, resulting in the lower bark plates curling up and coming off at the trunk base long before the mycelium starts fruiting.

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[Xerxses]

Documentation of the effect on Pinus sylvestris of the white rot at and below ground level in the trunk base and buttresses caused by the mycelium of Heterobasidion annosum, resulting in the lower bark plates curling up and coming off at the trunk base long before the mycelium starts fruiting.

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Never noticed that! Will have a proper look around from now on!

Any similar signs for Picea abies?

[Fungus]

Any similar signs for Picea abies?

 

Tobias,

No, Picea does not have thick bark plates like Pinus has.

I have documented Picea reacting to the white rot changing the T/R ratio of the trunk base in combination with the load of the central column weight pushing the trunk base shell down and outward with becoming flask or bottle shaped.

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[Xerxses]

Tobias,

No, Picea does not have thick bark plates like Pinus has.

I have documented Picea reacting to the white rot changing the T/R ratio of the trunk base in combination with the load of the central column weight pushing the trunk base shell down and outward with becoming flask or bottle shaped.

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I have only ever seen failures with Heterobasidion or not too far developed rot that I didnt notice any true signs of before I felled the tree. Your pic is extreme! Lovely shot that. Still waiting for fibrebuckling ot proper bottleneck trees to be found...

[Xerxses]

How do you tell the differense between Fomitopsis pinicola and Heterobasidion annosum?

I find them to be lookalikes... but this should maybe be in another thread...

[Fungus]

How do you tell the differense between Fomitopsis pinicola and Heterobasidion annosum? I find them to be lookalikes...

 

F. pinicola mostly fruits higher up the trunk, mainly develops seperate bigger multi-coloured brackets with pale yellowish pores and is a brown rotter, H. annosum fruits at the base of the trunk, mostly develops a cluster of some smaller bi-coloured brackets with white pores and is a white rotter. In doubt, microscope : F. pinicola spores 6-8.5 x 3-4.5 µm, H. annosum 4.5-6 x 4-4.5 µm.

Edited September 28, 2011 by Fungus

[Xerxses]

F. pinicola mostly fruits higher up the trunk, mainly develops seperate bigger multi-coloured brackets with pale yellowish pores and is a brown rotter, H. annosum fruits at the base of the trunk, mostly develops a cluster of some smaller bi-coloured brackets with white pores and is a white rotter. In doubt, microscope : F. pinicola spores 6-8.5 x 3-4.5 µm, H. annosum 4.5-6 x 4-4.5 µm.

 

So Fomitopsis and Heterobasidion?

[Fungus]

So Fomitopsis and Heterobasidion?

 

Tobias,

No, both F. pinicola, because the very young brackets in the second picture are multi-coloured (reddish-orange-yellow-white), i.e. not just dark red and white, and have pale yellowish pores.

Edited September 28, 2011 by Fungus

[Xerxses]

Hm.... Heterobasidion...?

[Fungus]

Heterobasidion...?

 

No, of course not, you have to take all before given characteristics into account. This specimen has :

- big perennial brackets,

- is growing higher up the trunk of the tree,

- has distinct "annual" concentric zones becoming almost black at the centre,

- and will undoubtedly have pale yellowish pores,

so definitely is not H. annosum.