White trunk rot of conifers
- Latin name: Phellinus hartigii (Allesch. & Schnabl) Pat.
- French name: Carie blanche du tronc des conifères
- Division: Basidiomycota
- Class: Aphyllophorales
- Synonym(s): Fomes hartigii (Allesch. & Schnabl) Bres.,
Polyporus hartigii Allesch. & Schnabl
Description
Micro-habitat(s)
Trunk
Distribution
Western Canada
Damage, symptoms and biology
Trees damaged by white trunk rot are prone to wind damage, usually breaking within 6 m of the ground. Decay is usually localized to tissues near the point of infection, but spreads 1 to 2 m up and down from each fruiting body.
Other information
The taxonomy of this fungus has been complicated by its morphological variation on different hosts. As a result, many names have been applied to the organism. In the past, many P. hartigii specimens were named Fomes or Phellinus robustus, a name that is now restricted to a related fungus on hardwoods. Another fungus, Poria tsugina (Murrill) Sacc. & Trott., now recognized as Phellinus punctatus (Fr.) Pilát, has resupinate fruiting bodies that are sometimes confused with those of P. hartigii.
Canadian Forest Service Publications
Information on host(s)
Main host(s)
Secondary host(s)
Photos
Fruiting bodies of Phellinus hartigii on a stem of western hemlock Eric Allen
Fruiting bodies of Phellinus hartigii on a branch stub of western hemlock Eric Allen
Decay caused by P. hartigii in a cross-section of a western hemlock branch Richard Robinson