Reducing the impact of stem decay Reducing the impact of stem decay pathogens in the Pacific Northwestpathogens in the Pacific Northwest

Brad CollinsBrad Collins

Significance of decay in forestsSignificance of decay in forests

EcologicalEcological Wildlife habitatWildlife habitat Create gapsCreate gaps Nutrient cyclingNutrient cycling Influence successionInfluence succession

EconomicalEconomical Tree mortalityTree mortality Wood damageWood damage Predisposing trees Predisposing trees

to breakageto breakage

Three important decay fungi in PNWThree important decay fungi in PNW

Echinodontium tinctoriumEchinodontium tinctorium (Indian paint fungus) (Indian paint fungus) Phellinus piniPhellinus pini (Red ring rot) (Red ring rot) Heterobasidion annosumHeterobasidion annosum (Annosus rot) (Annosus rot)

Modes of entry of pathogenModes of entry of pathogen

H. annosumH. annosum Spores on stumps and Spores on stumps and

woundswounds Spread through roots Spread through roots

to other treesto other trees

P. pini & E. P. pini & E. tinctoriumtinctorium

Spores on branch Spores on branch stubs and woundsstubs and wounds

Result – enzymatic decay of wood Result – enzymatic decay of wood tissuetissue

Effective control practicesEffective control practices

Site preparationSite preparation Planting strategiesPlanting strategies Stand Stand

managementmanagement

Successful control requires and integrative Successful control requires and integrative approach…approach…

Site preparationSite preparation

Site quality (climate, inoculum Site quality (climate, inoculum present)present)cool, moist, & shady = fungi!cool, moist, & shady = fungi!

Removing stumps & root Removing stumps & root fragmentsfragments

TrenchingTrenching Treating stumpsTreating stumps

BoraxBorax UreaUrea Phlebia giganteaPhlebia gigantea (biological control) (biological control)

Planting strategiesPlanting strategies

Planting non-host species (or mixed) Planting non-host species (or mixed) Lower planting densities reduces shaded-Lower planting densities reduces shaded-

out branchesout branches

Stand managementStand management

Monitor and remove symptomatic treesMonitor and remove symptomatic trees Even-age for Even-age for E. tinctoriumE. tinctorium, uneven-age , uneven-age

for for P. piniP. pini Minimize wounding during harvestMinimize wounding during harvest Watch out for bark beetles!Watch out for bark beetles! Pathological rotationPathological rotation Remember – we can’t completely Remember – we can’t completely

eradicate…just keep them in checkeradicate…just keep them in check

Questions?Questions?