Phellinus sulphurascens (weirii)

Phellinus sulphurascens (weirii) - DRL
- Biology of the Beast
  - Overview
    - most damaging agent on Fd on the coast
    - 2 forms - Cw form and Fd form (P. sulphurescens?, Inonotus sulphurescens?)
    - ecologically
      - creates diversity in the stand (age, tree spp, vert & horiz. structure, shrubs)
      - CWD
      - wildlife habitat (hollow butts, CWD, structure)
    - can co-exist with other root diseases (DRA, DRB & DRA) ... zone lines
  - Hosts & Range
    - Range of DRL ~ range of Fd
    - Hosts
      - Susceptible: Fd, Ba, Bg, Hm
      - Tolerant: pines
      - Resistant: Cw, hardwoods
  - Infection - spores rare, veg. via root contact
  - spread
    - ectotrophic mycelium (white-grey in dirt, brown in FF)
    - in rhitidome (dead bark)
    - in sapwood
    - in heartwood when present (i.e. large roots)
    - rate ~ 50 cm/yr on surface; 25cm/yr in tissues
    - Rate of spread factors
      - stand composition (% susc. hosts)
      - soil conditions (loamy soils, fresh/moist)
      - inoculum pot'l decreases with time (sharp drop 20-40yr)
  - damage
    - most damaging agent of Fd (on coast)
    - 1.4 million m3 annual loss
    - can lower stand volume by 40-70% by rotation age
    - mortality
      - windthrow & (girdling)
      - young - mortality starts ~10-20 yrs of age
      - older trees die ~10yr after showing crown symptoms
    - reduced increment
    - decay (limited, typically 2m)
    - young tree vs. older tree
  - signs & symptoms
    - general root disease symptoms
    - but ... diffuse centres
    - ectotrophic mycelium
      - white in dirt
      - brown crusty if exposed or in FF
    - laminated rot
      - separates along rings
      - setal hyphae (brown & fuzzy) btwn the layers
    - windthrow
      - criss cross pattern (... time)
      - root balls
    - fruiting bodies - cream/brown, resupinate
    - "chimneys" (rare on coast)
    - red/brown stain
      - root/stump cross-section
      - fades in a few weeks
- Mgmt of the Beast
  - Mgmt Overview
    - 3 levels: low - mod - high (min. - alternate - intensive)
    - generally speaking
      - low
        
        "don't worry, be happy"
        
        always consider fav alt. spp.
      - mod.
        
        a definite concern & affects mgmt
        
        use "kinder, gentler approach" (Bush Sr.)
        
        typically use the passive approach - alt spp.
      - high
        
        "holy crap" or "Houston, we have a problem"
        
        more drastic measures justified
        
        "weapons of mass destruction" thinking (Bush Jr.)
        
        innoculum removal
      - however (plant vs. stump) ...
        
        site productivity ($$ cost/benefit)
        
        site sensitivity (compaction, erosion)
        
        operational feasibility (slope)
        
        other values (fish, cultural, recreation, water)
  - survey / assessment
    - when do I have to survey
      - related to incidence
        
        low - mod - high
        
        generally for low or high the mgmt options are obvious
        
        thus survey to confirm if mod.
      - confirm distribution ... stratify
    - ground survey
      - area based
        
        ILM - intersection length method (infected length/ total length)
        
        sketch mapping (area mapped directly)
      - tree based
        
        line transect (2-5 m swaths)
    - (air photos)
      - "regular air photos"
      - infrared - healthy = red, stressed = yellowish-blue
  - management
    - @ harvest/ regeneration
      - individual centres vs strata
      - alternate species
        
        conifers (tolerant/ resistant)
        
        hardwoods (immune)
      - inoculum removal
        
        stumping
        
        push-over harvest
        
        factors to consider
        
        productivity (gain vs. cost)
        
        slope (30%)
        
        "robust soils" (texture, cfc, depth)
        
        other values (fish, wildlife, recreation)
      - inoculum avoidance
        
        5m for DRL
        
        ineffective unless infected stumps reliably marked
    - partial harvest
      - challenging, not enough is known
    - Comm. Thinning
      - avoid if >15% infected
      - 'cause you'll miss the asymptomatic trees
    - Young Stands (@ juvenile spacing)
      - promote "alternate species" - rec.
        
        low
        
        favour immune, tol. & mod spp.
        
        a.k.a. target the susc. hosts
        
        mod
        
        OK if susc hosts <60% ...
        
        high
        
        maybe OK if susc.+mod. hosts <60% ...
        
        leave extra trees
        
        should really consult Regional Pathologist
      - inoculum avoidance = bridge tree removal - rec.
        
        cut centre
        
        and a "buffer" of 5-15m
      - inoculum removal (pop-up spacing) - experimental