Effect of root and butt rot uncertainty on optimal harvest schedules and expected incomes at the stand level

Abstract • Key message Root and rot (RBR) caused byHeterobasidion parviporumNiemelä & Korhonen andHeterobasidion annosum(Fr.) Bref. damages Fennoscandian spruce stands. In case the rot infection and its severity are unknown, the mere risk of infection should seldom affect the harvest timing. When it does, the gains by harvesting earlier are minimal. • Context It has been suggested that stands infected by RBR should be harvested earlier than the healthy ones. Yet, we must decide on harvest timing decisions without reliable information on the infection. • Aims We studied if harvesting earlier pays off under RBR uncertainty. • Methods We structured the uncertainty with a decision tree and calculated the optimal rotations based on expected net present values. We compared rotation lengths to those of healthy stands and calculated gains from earlier harvesting. • Results The inclusion of RBR-related uncertainty in the model changed the rotation length of only 14–23% of the stands. The average reduction was 1.3–4.7 years. Yet, the gain from harvesting earlier was too low to be considered. • Conclusion In the absence of information on the extent and severity of RBR, it seldom pays off to advance harvests. The value growth in healthy trees tends to compensate for the value reduction due to rot.

Download Full-text

Heterobasidion annosum. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria ◽

10.1079/dfb/20056400192 ◽

1968 ◽

Author(s):

D. N. Pegler

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

World Wide ◽

Surface Soil ◽

Heterobasidion Annosum ◽

Coniferous Trees ◽

Tissue Paper ◽

Butt Rot ◽

Disease Free

Abstract A description is provided for Heterobasidion annosum. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On coniferous trees, particularly Picea, Larix, Thuja, Tsuga; also less commonly on numerous dicotyledonous hosts (Koenigs, 1960). DISEASE: Butt-rot. Causing decay to roots and heart wood of living trees. A tissue-paper-like layer of mycelial felt, forming between the bark and wood, is lilac, pink or purple at first, but later turns red, red-brown or purple-brown. White pockets are formed in the red region of the wood, sometimes preceded by black specks. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: World-wide in temperate regions (CMI Map 271, ed. 2, 1968). TRANSMISSION: Disseminated by wind-blown spores produced at all times of the year. Viable spores have been found airborne 70 miles from the nearest source (47, 3604), and in surface soil after 8 months (46, 13g). Also found in seed germination tests of Abies by Batko (38: 711). Spores may be introduced on nursery seedlings into disease-free areas (41: 260).

Download Full-text

Occurrence of heterobasidion annosum in pure and mixed spruce stands in Southern Finland

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1080/02827589009382598 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 5 (1-4) ◽

pp. 113-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Tuula Peri ◽

Kari Korhonen ◽

Anne Sairanen

Keyword(s):

Heterobasidion Annosum ◽

Spruce Stands

Download Full-text

Root and butt rot of Todo fir (Abies sachalinensis) caused by Heterobasidion annosum s.l. in Hokkaido, Japan

Forest Pathology ◽

10.1111/j.1439-0329.2007.00492.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 155-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

S. Tokuda ◽

Y. Ota ◽

T. Hattori

Keyword(s):

Heterobasidion Annosum ◽

Abies Sachalinensis ◽

Butt Rot

Download Full-text

First Report of Heterobasidion annosum on Native European Pinus cembra

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.1999.83.4.398b ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 83 (4) ◽

pp. 398-398 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G. Nicolotti ◽

P. Gonthier ◽

G. C. Varese

Keyword(s):

Heterobasidion Annosum ◽

Pinus Cembra ◽

Single Spore ◽

Cambridge University ◽

Butt Rot ◽

Primary Roots ◽

Swiss Stone Pine ◽

Natural Range ◽

Sexual Mating ◽

First Time

Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.:Fr.) Bref. is one of the most widespread and damaging root and butt rot agents on conifers. In the summer of 1998, H. annosum was observed for the first time on the Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra L.) in its natural range (1) at 1,900 m in the Aosta Valley in the northwestern Italian Alps. The affected tree was 14 m tall and about 60 years old. It was growing in a mixed spruce (Picea) and larch (Larix) forest severely affected by H. annosum. There were no clear crown symptoms but, after felling, an extensive butt rot was noticed up to 4 m from the collar. The pathogen was isolated from a disk cut at a height of about 40 cm. Its anamorphic form (Spiniger meineckellum (A. Olson) Stalpers) developed on this disk after 8 days of incubation at 20°C. H. annosum was also isolated from the central cylinder of the tree's primary roots and on the other roots down to a diameter of 0.5 cm. Sexual mating tests with single-spore testers for the P, S, and F intersterile groups (ISGs) showed that the isolate belonged to S-ISG. Biomolecular tests on this strain are in progress to confirm this. Reference: (1) T. G. Tutin et al. 1993. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Download Full-text