The dynamics of sprouts generation and colonization by macrofungi of black cherry Prunus serotina Ehrh. eliminated mechanically in the Kampinos National Park

Abstract

The experiment conducted in the Kampinos National Park since 2015 is aimed at investigating the relationship between the dynamics of black cherry sprouting response and the type and term of implementation of the mechanical elimination procedure. It also identifies macrofungi colonizing trees undergoing eradication. Three treatments, basal cut-stump, cutting (height: ca. 1 m) and girdling, were performed on 4 terms: early and late spring, summer and winter. Each variant was conducted within two plots, and applied to 25 trees, to 600 trees in total. For two consecutive vegetation seasons, sprouts were removed approximately every 8 weeks with the exception of winter-treated trees. Qualitative data were analysed, that is, the number of trees with and without sprouts at subsequent controls, and at the end of the second season, except winter-treated trees. Initially, almost 100% of the trees cut at the base and cut high responded by sprouting. The share of trees without sprouts gradually increased during the following vegetation season, from 3 rd to 5 th repetition of the sprouts removal, depending on the variant of experiment. Girdling contributed to a delay in sprouting. The effectiveness of procedures, expressed as share of trees without sprouts at the end of the second vegetation season, ranged widely (12%-84%), and depended statistically significantly on the date of the treatment. The effectiveness was higher for treatments done in early (average 68%) and late spring (average 74%), as compared to those done in summer (average 35%). Mycological research concerned 600 trees, including those treated in winter, without sprouts removal. Occurrence of 26 taxa of macrofungi was confirmed on 25% of trees; most of them having wood-decaying properties. Chondrostereum purpureum was most frequent, colonizing 9% of trees. Impact of plots varying soil moisture on succession and rate of fungi colonization, and on sprouting response dynamics requires further research.

Communities of Fungi in Black Cherry Stumps and Effects of Herbicide

“…The majority of taxa are ubiquitous and cosmopolitan. Many of those recorded have been isolated previously from roots [ 30 ], branches and dead wood of P. serotina in Poland [ 27 ].…”

“…Thus, other fungal species are being sought as potential components of mycoherbicides, which could be used in P. serotina control [ 12 , 27 ]. Research is being conducted on basidiomycetous, fungi that specialize in the destruction of wood and contribute to elimination of wood from forests [ 28 ].…”

“…Most are involved in degradation of the main components of wood: Cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. So far, there have been studies on fungal communities in P. serotina wood [ 27 , 29 ] or on how they might be affected by chemical treatments. The first such mycological analysis was presented by Marciszewska et al [ 27 ].…”

“…So far, there have been studies on fungal communities in P. serotina wood [ 27 , 29 ] or on how they might be affected by chemical treatments. The first such mycological analysis was presented by Marciszewska et al [ 27 ]. Despite this, there are no reports of microfungal communities inhabiting the wood of the black cherry.…”

Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) colonization by macrofungi in the fourth season of its decline due to different control measures in the Kampinos national Park

“…However, this method did not prove to be fully effective for black cherry in our experiment in KNP, as the majority of trees generated sprouts (Otręba et al 2017). In the continuation of this long-term research, we made the observation that the share of trees without sprouts began to gradually increase in the following vegetation season depending on the variant of the experiment and that girdling contributed to the delay in time (postponement) of sprouting response of the trees (Marciszewska et al 2018). The effectiveness of the procedures carried out in spring, expressed as the share of trees without sprouts at the end of the second growing season of the experiment, ranged from 40% to 84%, depending on the variant and was significantly higher compared for summer treatments where it ranged between 12% and 60%.…”