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Reducing the impact of stem decay pathogens in the Pacific Northwest. Brad Collins. Ecological Wildlife habitat Create gaps Nutrient cycling Influence succession. Economical Tree mortality Wood damage Predisposing trees to breakage. Significance of decay in forests.
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Reducing the impact of stem decay pathogens in the Pacific Northwest Brad Collins
Ecological Wildlife habitat Create gaps Nutrient cycling Influence succession Economical Tree mortality Wood damage Predisposing trees to breakage Significance of decay in forests
Three important decay fungi in PNW • Echinodontium tinctorium (Indian paint fungus) • Phellinus pini (Red ring rot) • Heterobasidion annosum (Annosus rot)
H. annosum Spores on stumps and wounds Spread through roots to other trees P. pini & E. tinctorium Spores on branch stubs and wounds Modes of entry of pathogen Result – enzymatic decay of wood tissue
Effective control practices • Site preparation • Planting strategies • Stand management Successful control requires and integrative approach…
Site preparation • Site quality (climate, inoculum present) cool, moist, & shady = fungi! • Removing stumps & root fragments • Trenching • Treating stumps • Borax • Urea • Phlebia gigantea (biological control)
Planting strategies • Planting non-host species (or mixed) • Lower planting densities reduces shaded-out branches
Stand management • Monitor and remove symptomatic trees • Even-age for E. tinctorium, uneven-age for P. pini • Minimize wounding during harvest • Watch out for bark beetles! • Pathological rotation • Remember – we can’t completely eradicate…just keep them in check