Sterile conk trunk rot of birch
- French disease name: Carie blanche spongieuse du bouleau
- Pathogen name: Inonotus obliquus (Pers.:Fr.) Pilát
- Kingdom: Fungi
- Phylum: Basidiomycota
- Class: Agaricomycetes
- Order: Hymenochaetales
- Family: Hymenochaetaceae
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Partial list of synonyms:
- Polyporus obliquus (Pers.:Fr.) Fr.
- Poria obliqua (Pers.:Fr.) P. Karst.
Distribution
Canada
Damage, symptoms and biology
The fruiting bodies are composed of black, sterile masses. They are rough and remain on the tree for several years.
Infected trees are severely damaged. The presence of a single sterile conk indicates extensive heartwood decay; 50% to 100% cull is assumed.
Other information
Infection occurs through dead branch stubs, trunk wounds, or through pre-existing cankers (e.g., Nectria) by spores produced by fertile fruiting bodies. Decay characteristics and small sterile conks are similar in appearance to those of Phellinus igniarius.
Canadian Forest Service Publications
Sterile conk trunk rot of birch
Information on host(s)
Main host(s)
Secondary host(s)
Alders, beeches, cherry birch, grey birch, hickory, ironwood, poplars / aspens / cottonwoods
Photos
A sterile conk of Inonotus obliquus on paper birch
Duncan Morrison
The yellow-brown colour of the context of a sterile conk of Inonotus obliquus
Eric Allen
Advanced decay in paper birch caused by Inonotus obliquus
Eric Allen