Ecological and Economical Impact of Snow Molds By Ken Anderson Winter Ecology, Spring 2009 Mountain Research Station – University of Colorado, Boulder

Outline Plant winter adaptations Fungal winter adaptations Fungal adaptation for summers Impact on agriculture and golf courses Forest management Methods of control

Plant Strategies for Overwintering Decreased Respiration, Carbohydrate build up, Increased Cryostability of PM (Gaudet D. 1994)‏ Cross Adaptation in Winter Rye (Hiilovaara- Teijo M. 1999)‏ Snowpack: Friend + Foe (McBeath J. 2002)‏

Snow Mold Strategies for Winter Activity AFP production (Hoshino et al. 2004) (Snider et al. 1999)‏ Attack plants through stomatal openings or directly through epidermis (McBeath J. 2002)‏ Low temp active enzymes (Schmidt et al. 2008)‏ Depth of snow creates different microclimates (McBeath J. 2002)‏

Snow Mold Strategies for Spring Snow Melt and Summer Dormancy in the form of Spores: Snow Scard (McBeath J. 2002)‏ Dormancy in the form of scleortia: Typhula spp. (McBeath J. 2002)‏ Stay active over summer with limited activity M. Nivale (McBeath J. 2002)‏ Death of majority of biomass. DIN and DON increase during Spring snow melt (Schmidt et al. 2007)‏

Economic Impact Damage to agriculture Winter cereals (Hsiang et al. 1999)‏ Damage to Golf courses (A. stolonifera damage) (Wang et al. 2005)‏ “Treatment of [Typhula spp.] may account for half of the chemical fungicide used on turf in [Canada]” (McBeath J. 2002)‏ Potential control of C. Canadensis by cottony snow mold (Mallet et al. 2000)‏

Strategies for Control Modifying strain resistance (Guadet D. 1994)‏ Ensuring proper acclimatization (Guadet D. 1994)‏ Fungicide less effective at low temperatures (McBeath 2002) Don't degrade quickly at low temp Removing snow cover (Hsiang et al. 1999)‏ Fall fertilization (Hsiang et al. 1999)‏

Strategies for Control Biocontrol against Typhula spp. (Hsiang et al. 1999)‏ Summer Control Still potential for airborne inoculation Fall Control Expensive but potential for less ecological damage Winter Control Requires low temp tolerance

Conclusions Snow Molds have an important ecological impact These impacts can be harnessed for forest management There are effective strategies for reducing impact on crops

Further Research Effect of LTB on white spruce seedlings Further resistant strain development of winter cereals Further microbial bio-control for fall and winter

Questions? Smith J. 1980

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