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Relative susceptibility of interior spruce (Picea glauca x engelmannii engelm.) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia engelm.) to Inonotus tomentosus (Fr.) Teng in central British Columbia

University of British Columbia

Twenty sample plots located in Inonotus tomentosus (Fr.) Teng centers in mixed lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) and interior spruce (Picea glauca x engelmannii Engelm.) stands in central British Columbia were studied to investigate the behaviour of, and variation in host species attacked by the pathogen. The effect of infection on the radial increment of spruce and pine was studied by measuring increment bores. Characteristics of the fungus in culture were studied using isolates obtained from each of the study plots. In some cases, the fungus was found to behave differently on spruce and pine. In pine, advanced necrosis of the cambium and phloem of the roots caused crown thinning and eventual standing mortality. In spruce, decay of the heartwood and inner xylem of the roots caused windfall of the tree, often before expression of noticeable crown symptoms. In both host species studied, spread was commonly observed from infected to healthy, contacting roots. Possible cases of spore inoculation through root wounds were also found. In all plots, pine showed a higher infection level than spruce. Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuqa menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) present within the plots were not found to be infected. Infection by I. tomentosus was not found to reduce significantly the basal area increment in pine or spruce. The fungus in culture demonstrated a large amount of variation in growth rate, mycelium color and mat color and texture. Such variation occurred both within and among isolates, and could not be related to the host species from which the isolate was obtained.

Text

2010-07-16

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/26533

Forestry

University of British Columbia

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