Role and function of Chondrostereum purpureum in biocontrol of trees

Abstract

A decay fungus, Chondrostereum purpureum (Pers. Ex Fr.) Pouzar, has been investigated in Europe, Northern America and New Zealand for its ability to decay hardwood stumps and thus prevent sprouting. The aim of these investigations has been to find an alternative to mechanical (cutting only) and chemical sprout control (cutting and applying chemicals to stumps in order to prevent sprouting). Mechanical sprout control is not an efficient option due to hardwood tree species’ ability to re-sprout efficiently after cutting, and therefore management costs are high. Chemicals would be efficient but due to their harmful effects on the environment, alternatives are needed. The fungal treatment, i.e., cutting accompanied with C. purpureum inoculum is an environmentally friendly and efficient option for sprout control. This mini-review comprises the role and function of C. purpureum in biocontrol of trees: the ecology of C. purpureum, its sprout control efficacy, factors affecting sprout control efficacy, devices in biological sprout control, potential risks, and the future perspectives of biological sprout control. Key points • A fungus Chondrostereum purpureum is efficient in preventing sprouting of hardwoods • C. purpureum is not sensitive to environmental conditions • Devices should be developed for cost-efficient biological sprout control

Silverleaf (Chondrostereum purpureum) Effects on Japanese Plum (Prunus salicina)

“…Pouzar is an important wood pathogen that causes Silverleaf disease. While this fungal species has attracted considerable interest in several countries as a biological agent for woody weed control in coniferous forest plantations [13][14][15][16][17], it can cause severe and destructive disease in woody plants, including Plants 2021, 10, 2777 2 of 14 ornamental, wild, forest, and fruit crop species in some areas of the world [4,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. More than 230 species are recorded as hosts of C. purpureum [15,18,19,24,25], i.e., the Rosaceae family [3,4,18,19,[26][27][28] and genus Prunus, one of the most susceptible to this pathogen [18], such as P. armeniaca [29], P. avium [30], P. persica 49 [31], P. serotina [19], P. domestica [32], and P. salicina [13].…”

“…New wood pathogens are being reported every day, and in a wider range of hosts and geographical locations [5,9,12,17,28,41,42]. However, little is known about their impact on fruit yield and quality.…”

Comparative Efficacy of Chondrosterum purpureum and Chemical Herbicides for Control of Resprouts in Tanoak and Bay Laurel

“…The wood stump decay process is a dynamic biological activity, and therefore, treated stumps are not decayed immediately. Depending on the virulence of a selected C. purpureum isolate to decay wood and the resistance of the targeted tree species, stump mortality begins as early as two months later and continues for four years after the treatment [ 16 ]. In our study, there was some evidence that the formulation (with and without C. purpureum inoculum)-treated tanoak stumps supported more decay fungi (including C. purpureum ) than the untreated controls and the herbicide treated stumps.…”

“…Infection by C. purpureum can also cause foliar discoloration or silvering, known as silver-leaf, of orchard fruit trees [ 13 ]. This fungus has been used as a biological control agent for the management of weedy woody vegetation in conifer plantations and utility-rights-of-way in North America, many European countries, and New Zealand [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

A comprehensive study on phenolic compounds and bioactive properties of five mushroom species via chemometric approach

“…Mushroom treatment, cutting accompanied with C. purpureum inoculum, is an environmentally friendly and effective option for sprout control rather than mechanical sprouting and chemicals so that hardwoods can re-sprout efficiently after cutting (Hamberg et al, 2021). Hymenochaete rubiginosa (bracket mushroom), Phaeolus schweinitzii (Dyer's polypore), and Phellinus igniarius (willow bracket mushroom) belong to the Polypore group and disturb all over the world.…”