Wood Decay Fungi: the Good, the Bad, and the UglyWood Decay Fungi: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Dr. Jessie ADr. Jessie A. . GlaeserGlaeser

Center of Forest Mycology Center of Forest Mycology ResearchResearch

U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Northern Research Station, Research Station,

Madison, Madison, WIWI

jglaeser@fs.fed.usjglaeser@fs.fed.us; 608; 608--231231--92159215

Identifying Fungi Associated with Hazard Trees

Why Identify Decay Fungi?Why Identify Decay Fungi?

Gives an idea of how Gives an idea of how much and what much and what type of decay is in type of decay is in the tree.the tree.

Armillaria solidipes - pathogenic

Armillaria gallica - nonpathogenic

Tom Volk

HHB

Decay DesignationsDecay Designations

Where it is in the Where it is in the treetreeoo Heart rotHeart rotoo Sap rotSap rotoo Root rot (butt rot)Root rot (butt rot)

What type of decay What type of decay (biochemically)(biochemically)oo White rotWhite rotoo Brown rotBrown rot Oxyporus populinus

HHB

“Heart Rot”“Heart Rot”

Decay in the Decay in the center of center of living living tree.tree.

Not necessarily Not necessarily confined to the confined to the ““heartwood.” Can heartwood.” Can occur in trees without occur in trees without heartwoodheartwood..

“Heart Rot”“Heart Rot”

Initial wounding of sapwood. Initial wounding of sapwood. Colonization by succession Colonization by succession

of microorganisms.of microorganisms. Tree defense Tree defense --

Compartmentalization.Compartmentalization. Production of new sapwood, Production of new sapwood,

heartwood. Seals over so heartwood. Seals over so decay appears restricted to decay appears restricted to central column.central column.

“Sap Rot”“Sap Rot”

Decay in Decay in outer outer wood of living wood of living and nonand non--living living trees or parts of trees or parts of trees.trees.

Center most Center most resistant.resistant.

Dangerous for Dangerous for climbers.climbers.

JAG

Root and Butt RotsRoot and Butt Rots

Very dangerous.Very dangerous. Pathogenic. Kill Pathogenic. Kill

roots and lower roots and lower bole.bole.

Can result in Can result in wind throw or wind throw or collapse of tree collapse of tree unexpectedly.unexpectedly.

USFS

Wood Cell Wall ComponentsWood Cell Wall Components

Cellulose and Hemicellulose Lignin

White RotWhite Rot

Metabolize all Metabolize all parts of the wood parts of the wood cell wall cell wall --cellulose, cellulose, hemicellulose and hemicellulose and lignin.lignin.

Gradual loss of Gradual loss of strength by strength by enzymatic enzymatic digestion of cell digestion of cell wall componentswall components..

80% of decay fungi80% of decay fungiOften associated Often associated with hardwoods.with hardwoods.

Brown RotBrown Rot

Metabolize hemicellulose Metabolize hemicellulose and cellulose but not ligninand cellulose but not lignin..

Initially a Initially a nonenzymaticnonenzymaticdepolymerizationdepolymerization of of cellulose involving cellulose involving superoxide radicals, iron superoxide radicals, iron and hydrogen peroxide.and hydrogen peroxide. Very rapid strength loss Very rapid strength loss

early in decay processearly in decay process..

Not as common as Not as common as white rot.white rot.Often associated with Often associated with softwoods.softwoods.

Types of White RotTypes of White Rot

Uniform white rot – Phellinus tremulae on aspen

Types of White RotTypes of White Rot

White pocket rot

Porodaedalea(Phellinus) pini on Douglas fir

Decay restricted to small pockets. Desirable for paneling.

Types of White RotTypes of White Rot

White laminated rot White laminated rot -- wood separates into wood separates into sheaths. sheaths.

Phellinus weirii

USFSCFS – Eric Allen

Ceriporiopsis rivulosa

Types of Brown RotTypes of Brown Rot

Brown Brown crumbly rot crumbly rot –– Fomitopsis pinicolaFomitopsis pinicola

Types of Brown RotTypes of Brown Rot

Brown stringy rot Brown stringy rot –– EchinodontiumEchinodontium tinctoriumtinctoriumon western conifers.on western conifers.

Types of brown rot – pocket rotsTypes of brown rot – pocket rots

Brown pocket rot of cedarBrown pocket rot of cedar“Pecky cypress”

Many Wood Decay Fungi are Difficult to Identify.

Many Wood Decay Fungi are Difficult to Identify.

Professional Professional mycologists use mycologists use microscopic microscopic characteristics characteristics or DNA or DNA sequencing.sequencing.

Many of the Many of the “important” “important” decay fungi are decay fungi are easily easily recognized.recognized.

Traits for IdentificationTraits for Identification

SubstrateSubstrate Decay typeDecay type HostHost LocationLocation TextureTexture PositonPositon

Fruiting Body AppearanceFruiting Body Appearance

General General shapeshape

Arrangement on treeArrangement on tree

Surface of cap (Surface of cap (pileuspileus))

Fertile SurfaceFertile Surface

Stalk (Stalk (stipestipe))

Wood Decay Fungi –Fruiting Body ShapesWood Decay Fungi –Fruiting Body Shapes

“Stipitate” – stalk, stipeCentralEccentricLateral

“Broadly attached”Conks and shelf fungi.

Wood Decay Fungi – Fruiting Body Shapes

Wood Decay Fungi – Fruiting Body Shapes

“Effused – reflexed”Partially resupinate

and partially shelf-like.

“Resupinate”Flat

Wood Decay Fungi –Fruiting Body ShapesWood Decay Fungi –Fruiting Body Shapes

“Imbricate”Overlapping groups

of fruiting bodies.

Parts of a Fruiting BodyParts of a Fruiting Body

Cap (pileus)

Gills

Ring (annulus)

Stalk (stipe)

Base

Parts of a Fruiting BodyParts of a Fruiting Body

Pileus (cap)

Spore surface (hymenium)

Pore layer (s)

Context

Types of HymenophoresTypes of Hymenophores

Gills

Pores

Lamellate Pores

Maze-like Gills“Daedeloid”

Types of HymenophoresTypes of Hymenophores

Flat = “corticioid”Toothed – “irpicoid”

Wrinkled = “phlebioid”

LichensLichens

Algae + Fungi

Crustose, foliose,

On surface only

Do not indicate decay

References for Decay IDReferences for Decay ID

Books Books –– field guides.field guides.Journal Articles.Journal Articles.Websites.Websites.Services:Services:

•• North American Mycological Society North American Mycological Society Local ChaptersLocal Chapters

•• Center for Forest Mycology Research,Center for Forest Mycology Research,Madison, WIMadison, WI

•• University of California University of California –– Berkeley Berkeley Wood Decay LaboratoryWood Decay Laboratory