Basidiomycota and wood decay fungi

Int 256/Fsc 300 - Forest Pathology Laboratory #6: Page

Laboratory #6

BASIDIOMYCOTA AND WOOD DECAY FUNGI

(Edmonds 280-291, 348-358)

.IPurpose:

To learn how to identify the common decay fungi.

.IIMaterials:

Identification key, knife, hand lens, dissecting microscope.

.IIIIntroduction.

.ASymptoms

.1Wood components.

)aLignin.

)bCellulose.

.2Brown rot.

.3White rot.

.4White-pocket rot.

.BSigns

.1Conk.

.2Mycelia.

.IVPathogen Cycle.

.ABasidiospores disseminated by wind.

.BEnter through wounds in stem.

.CColonizes dead xylem tissue.

.VCompartmentalization of decay in trees (CODIT).

CODIT: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/misc/treedecay/cover.htm

.AWall #1 - plugging of vessels and tracheids.

.BWall #2 - last cells in growth ring.

.CWall #3 - ray cells.

.DWall #4 - cambium response to wound.

.VIControl

.APrevent wounds.

.BPrune properly (handout).

How to Prune Trees: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_prune/prun001.htm

.CRemove decayed trees.

Hazard Trees Web Site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/hazard/index.htm

.VIIIdentifying Basidiomycota Which Cause Decay.

.ATerminology for family groupings of basidiomycetes based on macroscopic characteristics.

.BAgaricales (Plate 1).

.1Cap, gills, ring, stem cup, stem absent, stem lateral.

.CAphyllophorales (Polyporaceae).

.1Shape and method of attachment of pore fungi (Plate 8).

.2Hoof shaped, ungulate, sessile, stemless, convex, applanate, stem lateral, stem central.

.3Growth and structure of pore fungi (Plate 9).

)aContext, pores, annual, perennial, resupinate, effused-reflexed, imbricate, pore shape (pore shape:round, pore shape:angular, pore shape:daedaloid, pore shape:gill-like, or pore shape:lamellate).

.4Growth and structure of "tooth" fungi (Plate 3).

)aContext, teeth, shelf like or stalked.

.5Growth and structure of "smooth" fungi - smooth hymenium.

.VIIIPart 1: Basidiomycota Example: Mushrooms

.AObtain a mushroom (Agaricus bispora).

.BUsing a razor blade, cut the mushroom in half lengthwise.

.CDiagram the cap, gills, stem, collar.

.DPlace a drop of water on a microscope slide.

.ERemove a small (1 mm X 1mm) from the bottom edge of a gill and place in the water. Place a cover slip over the tissue.

.FObserve with the miroscope and diagram:

.1Basidia.

.2Basidiospores.

.IXPart 2: Root Rot Diseases.

(Manion p. 293-306, 125-129) (Edmonds p. 275-291, 297-307)

.AShoe string root rot, Armillaria root disease. (incited by Armillaria spp., Agaricaceae).
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/armillaria/armillaria.htm (class web site)

.1Examine sporophores and identify: cap, stem, gills (attached), collar, lack of a cup.

.2Examine rhizomorphs.

.3Note the resin production and identify mycelial fans underneath the bark of a spruce tree infected with the disease.

.BAnnosus Root Rot (incited by Heterobasidion annosum (Fomes annosus), Polyporaceae).
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/annosus/fidl-ann.htm (class web site)

.1Examine the perennial sporophores and decay of this basidiomycete.

.XPart 3: Stem Decay Fungi.

.ALab procedure:

.1CODIT: Diagram as many walls as seen in the samples. Label the walls

.2Make sketches of the three decay types (symptoms).

)aBrown rot.

)bWhite rot with zone lines.

)cWhite pocket rot.

.3Complete Decay Descriptions:

)aDecay name.

)bSusceptible tree species.

()iName

()iiSymptom

()aDecay type

()bHow much decay

()iiiLiving or dead tree

)cDecay fungus.

()iName

()iiSign: How identify

.BRed ring rot. (class web site)

.1Phellinus pini (Fomes pini) can cause a white pocket rot in the heartwood of most living conifers in the north temperate zone.

.2Examine samples of the early decay which appears as rings of red to purple discoloration in a stem cross section.

.3Punk knots can form on the stems of living trees (samples not available). Yellow brown mycilium fill the punk knots.

.4Decay extends 2-4 ft each side of conk or punk knots.

.5Examine the sporophore and note the following:

)aOn living trees - branch stubs.

)bCa. 3 in (1-12 in) across, shelving.

)cUpper surface dark gray to black, concentrically furrowed.

)dHymenium (hymenial surface) with pores (round to daedaloid), yellow-brown.

)eContext yellow brown when growing, darker when inactive.

.6The fungus enters through branch stubs and causes up to 50% volume loss in stands.

.CRed belt fungus. (class web site)

.1Fomitopsis pinicola (Fomes pinicola) is the most common decay of slash and logs in North America (conifers and deciduous trees). It causes a brown, cubical, crumbly rot.

.2Examine the sporophore and note the following:

)aPerennial, shelving conks, 2-10 in (2 ft) flat to hoof shape.

)bUpper surface smooth to crusty, gray to black in older parts, usually with white and red bands at margin.

)cLower surface white with round pores.

)dContext buff colored, corky.

)eMycelial felts in decayed wood.

.3Fungal spores normally infect only dead stems. Brown cubicle rot can occur up to 30 ft from conk.

.DPhellinus trunk rot of aspen. (class web site)

.1Phellinus tremulae (Fomes igniarius var. populinus) is the most serious decay of aspen (Populus spp.). It causes a white trunk rot of living trees.

.2Examine the sporophore and note the following:

)aPerennial conks hoof shape (hymenium convex), ca. 4 in across.

)bUpper surface grayish black, cracked, cinder-like.

)cHymenium gray with round pores.

)dInterior dark brown with white (silver) flecks (tubes filled with mycelium).

.3Spores enter through wounds and branch stubs.

.4Decay extends 8 or more feet from conk.

.ETinder fungus. (class web site)

.1Fomes fomentarius. commonly causes white rot in dead stems of birches (Betula), beeches (Fagus), and poplars (Populus).

.2Examine the sporophore and note the following:

)aPerennial conks hoof shape (hymenium flat), ca. 3 in across.

)bUpper surface gray to tan, smooth, concentric ridges.

)cHymenium gray with round pores.

)dInterior dark brown.

.3Spores infect wood of dead, standing trees and sometimes decays heartwood of living trees.

.4Presence of conk indicates total cull.

.FCinder conk.

.1Inonotus obliquus (Poria obliqua) commonly causes white rot and a canker in living birch, sometimes beech.

.2A sterile, cinder-like conk developing from branch stub or wound.

.3Spores enter through branch stub or wound.

.4Fungus decays heartwood and pushes through sapwood and phloem (canker develops) to form a sterile conk.

.5Fertile sporophore develops after tree dies.

.6Sterile conk indicates 15 ft or more of decay in stem.

.GArtist's Conk. (class web site)

.1Ganoderma applanatum (Fomes applanatus) can cause a white rot of dead hardwood stems, occasionally attacking heartwood of live trees.

.2Examine the sporophore and note the following:

)aLarge, shelving conk, up to 2 ft or more across.

)bUpper surface light gray to light brown, smooth to crusty.

)cHymenium white, turns brown when touched.

)dInterior: Upper layer white, lower layer brown.

.3Spores enter through branch stubs or wound.

.4Conk indicates 15 ft or more decay on live tree, 30 ft or more on dead tree.

.XITerminology. Be sure to include the complexes and Latin names of the “unknowns".

.ADisease Complexes.

annosus root rot

Armillaria root disease

artist's conk

cinder conk

Phellinus trunk rot of aspen

red belt fungus

red ring rot

shoe string root rot

tinder fungus

.BLatin names

Agaricales

Aphyllophorales

Armillaria

Fomes annosus

Fomes applanatus

Fomes fomentarius

Fomes igniarius var.
populinus

Fomes pini

Fomes pinicola

Fomitopsis pinicola

Ganoderma applanatum

Heterobasidion annosum

Inonotus obliquus

Phellinus pini

Phellinus tremulae

Poria obliqua

.CTerms.

angular

annual

applanate

brown rot

cap

collar

context

convex

cup

daedaloid

effused-reflexed

gill-like

gills

hoof shaped

hymenium

imbricate

lamellate

mantle

mycelial fans

perennial

pore shape

pores

punk knots

resupinate

rhizomorphs

round

sessile

stem absent

stem central

stem lateral

ungulate

white pocket rot

white rot

zone lines