Mechanical tree harvesters 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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest products journal 2004-11, Vol.54 (11), p.34-40
Main Authors: Uzunovic, A, O'Callahan, D, Kreber, B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
decay fungi
felling
harvesters
inoculum
logging equipment
logs
mechanical damage
mechanical harvesting
microbial contamination
molds (fungi)
Pinus contorta var. latifolia
Pinus radiata
stain fungi
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
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 radiata pine 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.
ISSN:0015-7473