Toxicity of Falcon 460 EC to wood decaying fungi of forest trees

The paper presents research results concerning fungal toxicity of a new systemic preparation Falcon 460 EC (product of Bayer Company) against basic wood decaying fungal species of forest trees. The medium was used in the experiment

The technique of hydrostatic injection applied to the wood of live trees

Hydrostatic injection method has been used for more than 500 years. It allows for a direct application of different kind of liquids such as preservations, fungicides or phytohormones to the wood of live trees. This paper provides the author's original method of applying hydrostatic injections to the wood of live trees being both economic and adjusted to climatic conditions of our country

Wood decomposing ability of chosen fungi species causing the brown pattern of wood decay in ex situ conditions

The paper describes the results of investigation on the range of trophic abilities and preferences of fungi causing the wood decay of the brown rot pattern. Fomitopsis pinicola, Laetiporus sulphureus, Piptoporus betulinus and Serpula lacrymans fungi were tested. Wooden samples made from wood of 25 different, both European and exotic, tree species were used. They were put on mycelium of every tested fungus. After 30, 60 and 90 days of exposition samples were weighted and the loss of their mass was calculated to compare the differences of wood destroying abilities between examined tree species. The results indicated that the range of trophic abilities in ex situ conditions of tested fungi species was much wider than in nature. All examined fungi were able to decay the wood of more tree species and their trophic preferences occurred to be different as well

Number of natural monuments and monumental trees in Poland based on the General Directorate for Environmental Protection inventory from the years 2014-2015

In 2014−2015, the General Directorate for Environmental Protection carried out an inventory of natural monuments in Poland. The data collected during this process was used to update and expand the generally available Central Register of Nature Protection Forms (CRFOP). Based on these material, the assignment of nature monuments to particular categories was verified and their number in individual categories was calculated. In addition, the species composition of trees being single monuments of nature and growing in monumental groups and alleys was determined. The total number of monumental trees in Poland was also calculated, with the division into species. For the 50 of most popular individual monument tree species, the minimum, maximum and average circumferences of their trunks were determined. A group of the most impressive monument trees with trunk circumferences exceeding 600 cm was also selected. According to the calculations, there are 36,570 natural monuments in Poland, of which 94% are trees and shrubs (individual trees – 28,304, groups of trees – 551 and alleys – 525). Individual trees natural monuments represent at least 161 species, trees growing in groups of at least 123 species, and trees growing in alleys at least 53 species. The total number of monumental trees growing as single specimens, in groups and alleys is at least 123,784 pieces, with at least 46,636 trees growing in groups, and at least 48,844 trees in alleys. In total, the monumental trees of Poland (growing singly, in groups and alleys) belong to at least 178 species, including 51 gymnosperms and 127 angiosperms. The CRFOP data also shows that there are 1641 trees that have reached or exceeded the trunk circumference of 600 cm, among which there are 77 specimens with a circumference equal to or greater than 800 cm. However these data do not coincide with information available in current literature and they need to be verified. The obtained calculations are the most up−to−date report on the numerical status of trees – natural monuments based on data confirmed by field inventory, and not only on the registers of nature monuments containing often unverified or non−actual data

Resistance of some wood species against the white rot decay in in vitro conditions

The paper reports the laboratory research on the natural wood resistance against white pattern fungal wood decomposition. Wood samples of 25, both European and exotic, tree species were collected and used (tab. 1). All samples were dried and weighted, then put on the mycelium of four different white rot causing fungi species: Fomes fomentarius ((L.: Fr.) Kickx), Schizophyllum commune (Fr.: Fr.), Stereum hirsutum ((Willd.: Fr.) Gray) and Trametes versicolor ((L.: Fr.) Pilát). After 30, 60 and 90 days of exposition the samples were put out, cleaned, dried and weighted again. The weight loss indicated the range of wood decomposition and allowed to estimate its natural resistance against fungal wood decay. The results showed that in laboratory conditions the range of all fungi species trophic abilities were much wider than the one observed in nature. Examined fungi were able to destroy wood from trees they never occur on. The reasons of this could be both mechanical (the absence of bark – natural barrier for fungi) and chemical (the less of chemical substances occurring in wood of living trees that could be responsible for its natural resistance against fungi)

Zasięg oddziaływania iniekcji hydrostatycznych w drewnie dębu szypułkowego (Quercus robur L.)

Hydrostatic injections are the method of applying chemicals directly into the wood of living trees. Laboratory tests proved their usefulness. However, still an open question remained the range of penetration of the liquid fed into the tree this way. To answer this question, a series of experiments were performed, using water with an addition of methylene blue – a dye leaving durable effects in the wood – as the working liquid. This paper depicts the results of this experiment

Tempo iniekcji hydrostatycznych do drewna dębu szypułkowego (Quercus robur L.) w zależności od grubości i wysokości drzewa oraz miąższości strzały w korze

Hydrostatic injection of chemicals applied directly into the wood of live trees is the method used in treating and preventing many of diverse tree diseases. The usefulness of this method was proved as a result of the previously performed experiments with young trees. However, still an open question remains how much effective the treatment applied to older trees of greater dimensions can be. The author of the paper attempts to provide answer to this question

The evaluation of practical usability of phenolic compounds naturally existing in wood for protection of monumental tree wood against fungi causing its decomposition

There are over 100 thousand old trees protected as nature monuments in Poland. Their health condition in many cases is not satisfying and the new methods of their conservancy against pathogenic, wood decaying fungi are necessary to be prepared. In this paper the evaluation of practical usability of some phenolic compounds naturally existing in wood is described. Natural chemical substances as eugenol, isoeugenol, resorcinol, pyrogallol and 2−furaldehyde (furanone) seem to be very useful in this matter. Artificially applied directly into the stem of living tree by hydrostatic injection, they are able to protect it from the inside as well as commonly used synthetic fungicides, being also less dangerous for the natural environment

Associations of wood?decaying fungi in ancient oak and lime trees

Oak and lime trees constitute nearly 2/3 of an overall number of trees considered as nature monuments in Poland. Being exposed to a number of agents their health condition often is poor. The wood−decaying fungi are the major age−limiting agents for trees. This paper presents the results of studies on the presence of various fungal species on 160 oak and lime trees. The author makes an attempt to define associations of fungi causing wood decay in ancient oak and lime trees in Poland

Effect of Phellinus pini (Brot.) Pilat occurrence on the radial growth of Pinus sylvestris L.

Scots pine is the most common tree species in Poland with the share in the species structure of Polish forests exceeding 58%. The most dangerous pathogen of this species is Phellinus pini (Brot.) Pilát), which causes the white pocket rot (also called red ring rot) of pine heartwood. It is estimated that as a result of the fungus’s activity, about 8% of annually harvested pine stems is damaged and worthless. As the Ph. pini damages only heartwood, it is often recognized that its occurrence has no influence on the tree’s physiology. As it is still unknown whether the presence of this fungus also does not affect the cambium responsible for the radial growth. We carried out studies in Scots pine stands located in the Radziwiłłów Forest District (central Poland). We investigated trees from 5th and 7th age classes (Biała Góra and Budy Stare forests, respectively). A total of 60 trees were sampled (30 per site). Half of them were specimens showing advanced symptoms of sickness, while the others were healthy specimens with no evidence of infection. From each tree we took one increment core and measured the tree−ring widths. Average tree−ring width was in case of healthy trees significantly higher than for sick trees. The research showed a significant, even of a dozen percent, reduction in the annual increment of infected trees in relation to healthy trees growing on the same site. Presumably, unidentified chemicals secreted to the cambium by the growing mycelium of Ph. pini may be responsible for this. It also seems that this relationship is progressing with the growing age of tree stands and is particularly visible in old stands, for example in reserves. Thus, Ph. pini could be one of the factors limiting the natural age of pine trees and accelerating their dieback. We also found that the growth of trees affected by the disease is influenced by a factor other than climatic, disturbing the natural rhythm of their radial increments. This factor is most likely the presence of mycelium of Ph. pini in the wood