Mycobionta of birch and birch stump roots and its possible effect on the infection by Armillaria spp. II.

This paper presents the differences in size and structure of mycobionta communities occurring in soil and on/i n roots of a 30 year-old birch and its stumps 2 years after cutting of the trees. Special attention was paid to the occurrence of Zygorhynchus moelleri and Trichoderma viride. The first species due to the metabolites produced may presumably stimulate the infection by Armlllaria. The second species is a well-known antagonist of Armillaria, Z. moelleri accounted only for 2.6, l.3 and 9.l % of the total number of isolates in rhizoplane as well as in the fine and thick roots of stumps, respectively. Trlchodcrma viride and T. virens were present in roots of Hve birch and its stumps only occasionally. The relatively big population of Mycelium radicis atrovirens- particularly in the fine roots of stumps is attributed to their high vitality and relatively lower level of root decomposition. It seems that the rate of stump root decomposilion does not favour their colonization by Z. moelleri and its supposed contribution in enhancing the infection by Armillaria might not be so distinct as on stumps of 49-year-old birches

Microfungi in the soil beneath common oak and their effect on Armillaria occurrence

Microfungal assemblages in a soil beneath 30- and 50·year-old oaks and their 2-year-old stumps were studied using the soil dilution plate method. A total of 98 culturable microfungi were isolated. Compared to the living oaks before felling and the control living oaks, the density of Mortierella macrocystis, Penicillium jonczewskii, Pseudogymnoascus roseus Sporothrix schenckii, Tolypoccladiumum inflatum and Umbelopsis vinacea sigificantly inacased in the soil beneath slumps in the 32- and 52-year-old stands. Density of Aspergillus kanagawaensis, Monodictys lepraria, P. daleae and sterile dematiaceous hyphomycetes increased significantly in the 32-year-old stand and Chrysosporium merdarium in the 52·year-old stand. These fungi are known 'stimulants' of Armillaria rhizomorph formation. It is suggested that the increase in density of Armillaria rhizomorph 'stimulants' in a soil beneath oak stumps may increase the possibility of colonization of stumps by Armillaria

Mycobiota Associated with the Vascular Wilt of Poplar

In 2017, a 560-ha area of hybrid poplar plantation in northern Poland showed symptoms of tree decline. The leaves appeared smaller, yellow-brown, and were shed prematurely. Twigs and smaller branches died without distinct cankers. Trunks decayed from the base. The phloem and xylem showed brown necrosis. Ten percent of the trees died 1–2 months after the first appearance of the symptoms. None of these symptoms were typical for known poplar diseases. The trees’ mycobiota were analysed using Illumina sequencing. A total of 69 467 and 70 218 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from the soil and wood. Blastocladiomycota and Chytridiomycota occurred only in the soil, with very low frequencies (0.005% and 0.008%). Two taxa of Glomeromycota, with frequencies of 0.001%, occurred in the wood. In the soil and wood, the frequencies of Zygomycota were 3.631% and 0.006%, the frequencies of Ascomycota were 45.299% and 68.697%, and the frequencies of Basidiomycota were 4.119% and 2.076%. At least 400 taxa of fungi were present. The identifiable Zygomycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota were represented by at least 18, 263 and 81 taxa, respectively. Many fungi were common to the soil and wood, but 160 taxa occurred only in soil and 73 occurred only in wood. The root pathogens included species of Oomycota. The vascular and parenchymal pathogens included species of Ascomycota and of Basidiomycota. The initial endophytic character of the fungi is emphasized. Soil, and possibly planting material, may be the sources of the pathogen inoculum, and climate warming is likely to be a predisposing factor. A water deficit may increase the trees’ susceptibility. The epidemiology of poplar vascular wilt reminds grapevine trunk diseases (GTD), including esca, black foot disease and Petri disease

Fungal communities in barren forest soil after amendment with different wood substrates and their possible effects on trees’, pathogens, insects and nematodes

Scots pine sawdust, composted bark or coarse, post-harvest woody debris from conifers had been spread over the surface of barren forest soil before planting with Scots pine. The effects of the Scots pine sawdust, composted bark or coarse, post-harvest woody debris from conifers on the abundance and diversity of culturable fungi were investigated. The amendments were aimed at increasing the soil suppressiveness to Armillaria and Heterobasidion. The classical soil-dilution method was chosen for qualitative and quantitative analyses of fungal communities in soils because of its proven reliability and consistency. The soil was inhabited by saprotrophic fungi from Ascomycota and Zygomycota, including species known to be potential antagonists of Armillaria or H. annosum (i.e. Clonostachys + Trichoderma spp., Penicillium commune, P. daleae, P. janczewskii) or stimulants of Armillaria (i.e. Pseudogymnoascus roseus, Trichocladium opacum). Eleven years after treatment, the abundance and diversity of fungi, the abundance of P. commune, and locally the abundance of P. janczewskii increased, while Clonostachys + Trichoderma spp., and locally, P. daleae and T. opacum decreased. Amending the barren soil with organic matter does not guarantee effective, long-term suppressiveness of the sandy loam soil to Armillaria and Heterobasidion. Increased abundance of entomopathogenic and nematophagous species, 11 years after treatment, does suggest the long-term possibility of insect or nematode control in soil

Stimulation of Armillaria rhizomorph growth by oak root fungi

Thirty one different genera of fungi were isolated from the wood of roots of 5O·year·old oak (Quercus robur). The most frequently isolated fungi were: Mycelium radicis atrovirens alpha (MRAA), Clonostachys sp. and Penicillium daleae, Beauveria bassiana, Clonostachys sp., Cryplosporiopsis rodicicolo, Geotrichum candidum, Mortierella vinacea, MRAA, P. daleae, P. janczewskii P. spinulosum, Sporothrix schenckii and Tolypocladium niveum significantly enhanced Armillaria mellea rhizomorph initiation and growth from oak branch segments in vitro. The biggest stimulation effect was noticed when the dematiaceous hyphomycetes, e.g. MRAA, P. dimorphospora and S. schenckii were studied

Effects of silvicultural techniques on the diversity of microorganisms in forest soil and their possible participation in biological control of Armillaria and Heterobasidion

Effects of different pre-planting soil preparations and post-harvest wood debris applications in a clear-cut Scots pine plantation, on the abundance, diversity, and activity of culturable microorganisms were investigated. The investigation was done 9 years after the re-plantings had been done. This formed part of an investigation of silvicultural practices for conservation and the biological control of Armillaria and Heterobasidion in northern temperate forests (Poland). The treatments being compared, were expected to have altered the soil’s physical and chemical properties, and consequently, its biological properties. Only soft-rot microfungi from the Ascomycota and Zygomycota were detected in the soil. Fungi, including those antagonistic to Armillaria and Heterobasidion, were more abundant after shallow ploughing than after deep ploughing or ridging, and where chipped rather than coarse wood debris was left on the soil surface or incorporated. Scots pine trees had the most biomass and the least mortality after ridging and leaving coarse wood debris on the surface (associated with only a relatively moderate abundance of fungi)