Schweinitzii Butt Rot
- Latin name: Phaeolus schweinitzii (Fr.:Fr.) Pat.
- French name: Carie brune cubique du pied
- Division: Basidiomycota
- Class: Aphyllophorales
- Synonym(s): Polyporus schweinitzii Fr.: Fr.
Description
Micro-habitat(s)
Trunk, Base of tree, Root
Distribution
Canada
Damage, symptoms and biology
Losses to infected trees are relatively high as decay generally occurs in the high-quality basal log. In addition, trees with decay are subject to wind throw or frequently break near their base. In British Columbia, losses are most severe in Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce.
In eastern Canada, losses tend to decline as overmature stands are harvested.
Other information
Phaeolus schweinitzii causes a butt rot in most mature coniferous tree species, occasionally attacking young trees. Fruiting bodies develop on living and dead trees, on felled timber and on the forest floor near the base of infected trees. Fruiting bodies near the base of trees indicate root infection but not necessarily extensive butt rot. Infected trees should be considered a high risk near buildings and in recreation areas. Advanced decay might be confused with Fomitopsis pinicola, or in western redcedar, with Postia sericeomollis.
Canadian Forest Service Publications
Information on host(s)
Main host(s)
Balsam fir, black spruce, ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir, western hemlock, white spruce
Secondary host(s)
Amabilis fir, birch, eastern hemlock, eastern white pine, Engelmann spruce, Garry oak, grand fir, jack pine, larches / tamaracks, mountain hemlock, shore pine, Sitka spruce, subalpine fir, western redcedar, western white pine, yew
Photos
André Carpentier
Advanced decay of Douglas-fir caused by P. schweinitzii showing brown cubical rot Duncan Morrison
Advanced decay of Douglas-fir caused by P. schweinitzii showing brown cubical rot Eric Allen
Advanced decay of Douglas-fir caused by P. schweinitzii showing brown cubical rot Eric Allen
Fruiting bodies of Phaeolus schweinitzii, the velvet top fungus, shown infecting balsam fir seedlings.