Biological Vegetation Management: An Alternative To Chemical Pesticides

We present data collected at 3 and 6 years on a rights-of-way project with Myco-Tech paste. This paste is based on a naturally occurring fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum (Pers. ex Fr.) Pouzar) in temperate climates that initiates wood decay. The project was done in Ste-Agathe, Québec, Canada, in 1998. After 6 years in the treated area, sprouting was sparse (density = 22,500 stems/ha [9,000 stems/ac]), and mean height was approximately 2.6 m (8.6 ft). In the control area, sprouting was uniform (density > 132,500 stems/ha [53,000 stems/ac]) and mean height was approximately 6 m (20 ft). According to Hydro-Québec's clearance standard at that site, the control area should have been cut last year. In the treated area, clearing is not needed for at least 3 to 4 years.