Premium
Effects of metals and pH on in vitro growth of Armillaria ostoyae and other root and butt rot fungi of red spruce
Author(s) -
Wargo P. M.,
Carey A. C.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
forest pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.535
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1439-0329
pISSN - 1437-4781
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0329.2001.00218.x
Subject(s) - armillaria , biology , mycelium , botany , root rot , picea abies , armillaria mellea , paxillus involutus , horticulture , mycorrhiza , genetics , symbiosis , bacteria
Armillaria ostoyae , Perenniporia subacida , Resinicium bicolor and Scytinostroma galactinum , root and butt rot fungi found on red spruce, Picea rubens , were tested, in vitro , for their sensitivity to metals typically found in high elevation forest soils where red spruce grows. Rhizomorph production by A. ostoyae from woody inocula in soils from red spruce stands at three elevations at each of five mountainous sites in the eastern United States was inhibited completely in the mineral soil from all elevations at all sites, and was also reduced significantly in the organic horizon from the upper two elevations at three of the sites. Inhibition was correlated with concentrations of metal ions in the soil. Growth of rhizomorphs into an agar medium containing lead and other heavy metals was inhibited for isolates of A. ostoyae from red spruce, but not for an isolate of Armillaria gallica from sugar maple; aluminium inhibited rhizomorph growth of isolates of both species. Mycelial growth of all four root and butt rot fungi was inhibited by lead, aluminium and other heavy metals depending on the solubility and concentration of metal and pH of the medium; growth inhibition was usually greater at an initial pH of 3.5 than at pH 4.5. Metal ions inhibited radial growth of Armillaria species more than that of the other three fungi. Rhizomorph growth of Armillaria was inhibited more than radial growth. Because local spread of A. ostoyae occurs frequently by means of rhizomorph growth between near roots, increases in lead, aluminium and other metals in the forest floor may contribute to this fungus' scarcity in high elevation soils and reduced incidence of infection at these sites in the eastern United States.