Reducing the impact of stem decay pathogens in the Pacific Northwest Brad Collins

Significance of decay in forests Ecological  Wildlife habitat  Create gaps  Nutrient cycling  Influence succession Economical  Tree mortality  Wood damage  Predisposing trees to breakage

Three important decay fungi in PNW  Echinodontium tinctorium (Indian paint fungus)  Phellinus pini (Red ring rot)  Heterobasidion annosum (Annosus rot)

Modes of entry of pathogen H. annosum  Spores on stumps and wounds  Spread through roots to other trees P. pini & E. tinctorium  Spores on branch stubs and wounds Result – enzymatic decay of wood tissue

Effective control practices  Site preparation  Planting strategies  Stand management Successful control requires and integrative approach…

Site preparation  Site quality (climate, inoculum present) cool, moist, & shady = fungi!  Removing stumps & root fragments  Trenching  Treating stumps  Borax  Urea  Phlebia gigantea (biological control)

Planting strategies  Planting non-host species (or mixed)  Lower planting densities reduces shaded-out branches

Stand management  Monitor and remove symptomatic trees  Even-age for E. tinctorium, uneven-age for P. pini  Minimize wounding during harvest  Watch out for bark beetles!  Pathological rotation  Remember – we can’t completely eradicate…just keep them in check

Questions?