Stump colonization by Armillaria luteobubalina and other wood decay fungi in an age series of cut‐over stumps in karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) regrowth forests in south‐western Australia

Abstract

summary As part of a study of interactions between Armillaria luteobubalina Watling and Kile and other wood decay fungi, we conducted a three‐year floristic survey of fungal colonization of 150 eucalypt stumps (left after clearfelling of mature forest) in a series of karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor F. Muell.) regrowth stands of different ages. Certain fungi showed preferences for different eucalypt species or parts of stumps in their choice of food base. A successional trend of fungal species was evident in the age series of stumps (0–16 yr after logging). There was no significant relationship between the absence of A. luteobubalina and the presence of other fungal species on stumps, but there was a significant correlation between the percent stump base colonized by A. luteobubalina and presence of other fungi, indicating some degree of natural suppression of A. luteobubalina. More than 80 wood decay fungi were observed on stumps, some of which are cosmopolitan, such as Coriolus versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Quel. and Stereum hirsutum (Wild, ex Fr.) S.F. Gray, but a number of which are yet undescribed.

Causes of incipient rot and rot in regrowthEucalyptus diversicolor(karri) trees

“…In a study of the succession of fungi that fruited on regrowth karri stumps, Pearce & Malajczuk (1990) reported that S. hirsutum was an early colonizer, with its main fruiting occurring 1–7 years after clearfelling. This was in contrast to H. semistupposa , which they regarded as major late colonizer of 7‐ to 16‐year‐old stumps.…”

“…Like H. semistupposa , this was identified from basidiomes that developed on inoculated karri logs, and microscopic comparison of cultures from the underlying wood rot with the original culture. Both H. semistupposa and S. hirsutum were previously recorded from karri stumps (Pearce & Malajczuk, 1990).…”

Fungal Diversity in Multiple Post-harvest Aged Red Pine Stumps and Their Potential Influence on Heterobasidion Root Rot in Managed Stands Across Minnesota

“…The cut surface of a stump allows for rapid establishment of fungi via spores followed by colonization of the stump and roots (Rayner and Boddy, 1988 ; Pearce and Malajczuk, 1990 ). Some fungi that colonize a stump might also have been present before felling, such as fungi inhabiting the heartwood and latent invaders (Boddy and Heilmann-Clausen, 2008 ).…”