The Fungus Chondrostereum purpureum as a Silvicide to Control Stump Sprouting in Hardwoods

Abstract

Abstract Cultures of the fungus Chondrostereum purpureum (Fr.)Pouzar were applied to cut surfaces of hardwood stumps immediately after the trees were felled in late spring and summer and the stumps monitored for fungus infection and adventitious sprouting during the ensuing 2 years. Hardwood species inoculated were red maple, sugar maple, yellow birch, paper birch, pin cherry, trembling aspen, and beech. The fungus was applied as wheat bran cultures in a mineral oil slurry or by inverting petri dish cultures on the stump. All treatments resulted in development of sporophores of the fungus on the stump within 2 years and a concomitant reduction, as compared to the uninoculated controls, of the number of stump sprouts. The speed of stump invasion by the fungus and reduction of sprouting varied both among and within species. The feasibility of using this fungus as a biological control of regrowth after stand cleaning is discussed. North. J. Appl. For. 7(1):17-19, March 1990.