Biological Characteristics of Fomes Fomentarius, Found on Spruce and Birch

Abstract

The comparative growth rates and wood destructive ability of two isolates of Tomes fomentarius (Fries) Kickx. were investigated under laboratory conditions. The pure cultures were obtained from 2-year-old fruiting bodies, growing on stumps of birch (Betula verrucosa Ehrh.) and spruce (Picea excelsa L.) trees situated in the same locality. Comparing the rates of growth of these isolates, on beer-must agar, it was found that isolates from spruce stumps grew faster and covered the entire surface of the medium in 11 days, whereas isolates from birch overgrew the same area in 16 days. The wood-destroying ability of spruce isolates was greater on pine, spruce, and oak wood blocks, whereas birch isolates were more destructive to birch, beech, aspen, alder, linden, and maple. The macro-and micro-scopic characteristics of mycelial mats of both isolates, as well as the fruiting bodies, revealed no difference between them.

Fomes fomentarius and F. inzengae—A Comparison of Their Decay Patterns on Beech Wood

“…or Betula pendula Roth. [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. On the other hand, F. fomentarius is known as a heart-rot fungus in standing trees, often starting its degradation after previous colonisation through mechanical wounds or dead stubs and acting as an endophyte for many years [ 15 , 16 ].…”

“…Martin, indicating higher heterogeneity of density among singular samples due to fungal degradation and a strong correlation between the modulus of rupture ( ) and the dynamic modulus of elasticity ( ). The available data on F. fomentarius are scant, with some reports mainly focusing on competitive abilities against other wood-decaying fungi on agar soil [ 29 ] growth rate and on spruce and birch wood [ 14 ], and degradation abilities when growing on beech wood powder [ 30 ]. Studies concerning the impact of the degradation of F. fomentarius on the material properties of colonised wood are still missing.…”

The occurrence and rapid discrimination of Fomes fomentarius genotypes by ITS-RFLP analysis

“…This very common fungus is distributed within the northern hemisphere in North America, North Africa, Asia, and all over Europe (McDonald 1938;Breitenbach & Kr€ anzlin 1986;Kotlaba 1997;Schmidt 2006). Within its geographical area of distribution in Europe, the shape and colour of the perennial basidiomata can vary considerably (Suvorov 1967;Schwarze 1992). According to Schwarze (1994) F. fomentarius exists in several forms, depending on the host.…”

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Explores the Mechanism of Angiosperm and Gymnosperm Deadwood Degradation by Fomes fomentarius

“…Fomes fomentarius is a simultaneous white-rot fungus and one of the main decomposers of coarse wood from different angiosperm tree species, such as Fagus sylvatica , Tilia cordata or Betula pendula etc. [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Gymnosperm tree species, including Pinus , Picea, and Abies, are not its natural hosts.…”