Mechanical tree havesters spread fungal inoculum onto freshly felled Canadian and New Zealand pine logs

Mechanical tree harvesters damage the exterior of freshly felled logs, loosening and removing bark, and producing punctures and indentations up to several centimeters deep. Damaged logs are susceptible to invasion by a plethora of wood-inhabiting fungi. In this study, we investigated the role of tre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest products journal 2004-11, Vol.54 (11), p.34-40
Main Authors: UZUNOVIC, Adnan, O'CALLAHAN, Diahanna, KREBER, Bernhard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antifungal agents
Applied sciences
Degradation and preservation
Exact sciences and technology
Forest products industry
Forests
Fungi
Harvest
Laboratories
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Stains & staining
Statistical analysis
Studies
Trees
Wood
Wood. Paper. Non wovens
Woodworking equipment
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Summary:Mechanical tree harvesters damage the exterior of freshly felled logs, loosening and removing bark, and producing punctures and indentations up to several centimeters deep. Damaged logs are susceptible to invasion by a plethora of wood-inhabiting fungi. In this study, we investigated the role of tree harvesters in disseminating fungi, particularly wood-discoloring fungi, or inoculating Canadian lodgepole pine and New Zealand radiatapine logs. In the study reported here, wood-decaying fungi, staining fungi, and moulds were isolated from a harvester head and the bark of standing lodgepole pine trees. This microflora may be translocated into the sub-surface regions of logs during the harvesting process. In Canada, Aureobasidium pullulans was the most frequently isolated staining fungus followed by Ophiostoma minus and Leptographium spp. All were isolated from stained areas associated with damage sites. Sphaeropsis sapinea was the most prominent species in New Zealand. Tree harvesters clearly play a role in the dissemination of wood-degrading fungi into freshly felled conifer logs. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0015-7473
2376-9637