Armillaria novae-zelandiae

Last updated

Armillaria novae-zelandiae
Armillaria novae-zelandiae 2024GSR.jpg
Armillaria novae-zelandiae fruiting on a tree stump, Wellington, New Zealand
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Physalacriaceae
Genus: Armillaria
Species:
A. novae-zelandiae
Binomial name
Armillaria novae-zelandiae
(G.Stev.) Boesew. (1977)
Synonyms [1]
  • Armillariella novae-zelandiaeG.Stev. (1964)
  • Armillaria novae-zelandiae(G.Stev.) Herink (1973)

Armillaria novae-zelandiae is a species of mushroom-forming fungus in the family Physalacriaceae. This plant pathogen species is one of four Armillaria species that have been identified in Aotearoa New Zealand the others are A. limonea, A. hinnulea, A. aotearoa ). [2]

Contents

In Aotearoa New Zealand the Te Reo name is harore, the English vernacular name is olive honeycap, and the diseases caused by Armillaria species are called root rot. [3] [4] [5]

Description

It was originally described as Armillariella novae-zelandiae by Greta Stevenson: "Pileus 3-8 cm diam., olive-buff to olive-brown, sprinkled at centre with very small dull brown scales, convex at first with a strongly down-rolled margin, becoming plane to shallow concave, moist when fresh with a conspicuously striate margin, drying matt; flesh creamy white. Gills decurrent to a most sinuate, creamy white becoming dull fawn, moderately crowded with many short members. Stipe 4-7 x 0.4-0.8 cm, fawn above evanescent ring, brown to dark purplish brown below, smooth or striate, tough, solid, bases swollen and united. Spores 8-9 x 5.5-6.5μm, non-amyloid rather thick-walled (Fig. 24). Spore print white". [6]

The pileus of A. novae-zelandiae can sometimes be bioluminescent. [7]

Distribution

Armillaria novae-zelandiae is found in Australasia (New Zealand including the Chatham Islands, Tasmania, Eastern Australia, and Papua New Guinea), South America (Argentina and Chile), and Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia and Amami-Oshimi islands of Japan). Isolates from New Zealand and Australia are reciprocally monophyletic but considered conspecific by virtue of their similar basidiocarp morphology, vegetative growth characteristics and sexual compatibility. The South American lineage is sister to the Australasian clade, while isolates from Asia are a basal monophyletic lineage within A. novae-zelandiae. [8]

Matauranga

Māori ate harore (A. novae-zelandiae) and some Tūhoe continue to collect it as food in Te Urewera. [3] Harore is edible providing it is cooked well before eating. [9]

Hosts and disease symptoms

The Biota of New Zealand database provides an updated lists the of native and introduced plants associated with or host to A. novae-zelandiae. [10]

Armillaria novae-zelandiae occur naturally in southern beech and broad-leaf podocarp forests. Historically, the clear felling and burning of native forest for conversion to plantation forestry (principally Pinus radiata) did not remove the fungus from the soil where it survived as a wood-decay fungus. When these sites were planted with pines, death of the planted trees occurred particularly around the stumps of the felled native trees that harboured the fungus. The fungus attached the young trees by direct root contact or by fungal rhizomorphs extending from the dead trees roots. [11] The hyphae, mycelium, and rhizomorphs of A. novae-zelandiae can survive on infected tissues in soil for a long time, and in spring when plants start growing, the pathogen can infect new growing tissue. [2]

Spores released from the mushrooms of A. novae-zelandiae are wind-borne can augmenting already infected sites and colonising sites that previously lacked woody vegetation, such as old pasture now planted in trees and other woody plants. Infection occurs in the roots but if the fungus reaches and girdles the root collar, killing the cambium, death of the tree will result. [11]

Horner described the infection process kiwifruit vines ( Actinidia deliciosa ). The first symptom of infection is a loss of vigour, yellowing of the foliage, and premature leaf fall. Infected main roots develop a wet and pulpy rot, with white mycelial growth beneath the bark, and a distinctive 'mushroomy' smell. Rhizomorphs are found growing from diseased roots. In late stages of infection, the mycelial fan may advance up the lower trunk, causing swelling and cracking of the bark, and bleeding of a dark red exudate. The infected kiwifruit vine usually dies within two years of becoming infected. [12]

Environment

A study of site factors in Pinus radiata plantations found that A. novae-zelandiae prefers sites with a mean annual temperature below 13 °C, with rainfall between 1000 and 1600 mm per annum, and which have been previously forested. A study in Golden Downs Forest showed a topographical effect with 54% infection in gullies but only 6% on steep slopes. However, if soil moisture levels were high then no topographical effect could be observed. [11] A. novae-zelandiae has been shown to survive temperatures up to 41 °C. [13]

Studies have also shown that in pine forests, as pine root systems increase in size and overlap, there is a possibility of disease transfer which allows the spread of infection beyond the area of the original primary source. [2] Also, trees that have been weakened by stresses like defoliation by insects or frost, drought, waterlogging, soil compaction, air pollution, and foliage diseases. The rhizomorphs of the fungus colonise the weakened trees and can colonize an entire root system after severe stresses. [14]

Management

Burning of cleared pine plantation sites initially reduced rhizomorphs in the soil from 41-89% to 5-14% but levels soon recovered. Removing and burning stumps reduced the mortality of young trees at age 5 from 52% to 12-21 %; however, this is very expensive and suitable for relatively flat terrain only. Chemical treatment of stumps has had some success but is not economical. [11] in 2015, research was being done to see if biological control was another option, by increasing the incidence of other fungi which naturally colonize pine stumps and compete with Armillaria for the substrate, thus forcing the Armillaria species to be confined to smaller and more insignificant segments of the stump. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Armillaria</i> Genus of fungi

Armillaria is a genus of fungi that includes the A. mellea species known as honey fungi that live on trees and woody shrubs. It includes about 10 species formerly categorized summarily as A. mellea. Armillarias are long-lived and form the largest living fungi in the world. The largest known organism covers more than 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) in Oregon's Malheur National Forest and is estimated to be 2,500 years old. Some species of Armillaria display bioluminescence, resulting in foxfire.

<i>Armillaria mellea</i> Species of fungus

Armillaria mellea, commonly known as honey fungus, is an edible basidiomycete fungus in the genus Armillaria. It is a plant pathogen and part of a cryptic species complex of closely related and morphologically similar species. It causes Armillaria root rot in many plant species and produces mushrooms around the base of trees it has infected. The symptoms of infection appear in the crowns of infected trees as discoloured foliage, reduced growth, dieback of the branches and death. The mushrooms are edible but some people may be intolerant to them. This species is capable of producing light via bioluminescence in its mycelium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mycelial cord</span> Structure produced by fungi

Mycelial cords are linear aggregations of parallel-oriented hyphae. The mature cords are composed of wide, empty vessel hyphae surrounded by narrower sheathing hyphae. Cords may look similar to plant roots, and also frequently have similar functions; hence they are also called rhizomorphs. As well as growing underground or on the surface of trees and other plants, some fungi make mycelial cords which hang in the air from vegetation.

<i>Armillaria luteobubalina</i> Species of fungus in the family Physalacriaceae.

Armillaria luteobubalina, commonly known as the Australian honey fungus, is a species of mushroom in the family Physalacriaceae. Widely distributed in southern Australia, the fungus is responsible for a disease known as Armillaria root rot, a primary cause of Eucalyptus tree death and forest dieback. It is the most pathogenic and widespread of the six Armillaria species found in Australia. The fungus has also been collected in Argentina and Chile. Fruit bodies have cream- to tan-coloured caps that grow up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter and stems that measure up to 20 cm (8 in) long by 1.5 cm (1 in) thick. The fruit bodies, which appear at the base of infected trees and other woody plants in autumn (March–April), are edible, but require cooking to remove the bitter taste. The fungus is dispersed through spores produced on gills on the underside of the caps, and also by growing vegetatively through the root systems of host trees. The ability of the fungus to spread vegetatively is facilitated by an aerating system that allows it to efficiently diffuse oxygen through rhizomorphs—rootlike structures made of dense masses of hyphae.

<i>Armillaria tabescens</i> Species of fungus

Armillaria tabescens is a species of fungus in the family Physalacriaceae. It is a plant pathogen. The mycelium of the fungus is bioluminescent.

<i>Thielaviopsis basicola</i> Species of fungus

Thielaviopsis basicola is the plant-pathogen fungus responsible for black root rot disease. This particular disease has a large host range, affecting woody ornamentals, herbaceous ornamentals, agronomic crops, and even vegetable crops. Examples of susceptible hosts include petunia, pansy, poinsettia, tobacco, cotton, carrot, lettuce, tomato, and others. Symptoms of this disease resemble nutrient deficiency but are truly a result of the decaying root systems of plants. Common symptoms include chlorotic lower foliage, yellowing of plant, stunting or wilting, and black lesions along the roots. The lesions along the roots may appear red at first, getting darker and turning black as the disease progresses. Black root lesions that begin in the middle of a root can also spread further along the roots in either direction. Due to the nature of the pathogen, the disease can easily be identified by the black lesions along the roots, especially when compared to healthy roots. The black lesions that appear along the roots are a result of the formation of chlamydospores, resting spores of the fungus that contribute to its pathogenicity. The chlamydospores are a dark brown-black color and cause the "discoloration" of the roots when they are produced in large amounts.

<i>Heterobasidion annosum</i> Species of fungus

Heterobasidion annosum is a basidiomycete fungus in the family Bondarzewiaceae. It is considered to be the most economically important forest pathogen in the Northern Hemisphere. Heterobasidion annosum is widespread in forests in the United States and is responsible for the loss of one billion U.S. dollars annually. This fungus has been known by many different names. First described by Fries in 1821, it was known by the name Polyporus annosum. Later, it was found to be linked to conifer disease by Robert Hartig in 1874, and was renamed Fomes annosus by H. Karsten. Its current name of Heterobasidion annosum was given by Brefeld in 1888. Heterobasidion annosum causes one of the most destructive diseases of conifers. The disease caused by the fungus is named annosus root rot.

Rosellinia bunodes is a plant pathogen infecting several hosts including avocados, bananas, cacao and tea.

<i>Rigidoporus microporus</i> Species of fungus

Rigidoporus microporus is a plant pathogen, known to cause white root rot disease on various tropical crops, such as cacao, cassava, tea, with economical importance on the para rubber tree.

<i>Porodaedalea pini</i> Species of fungus

Porodaedalea pini, commonly known as the pine conk, is a species of fungus in the family Hymenochaetaceae. It is a plant pathogen that causes tree disease commonly known as "red ring rot" or "white speck". This disease, extremely common in the conifers of North America, decays tree trunks, rendering them useless for lumber. It is a rot of the heartwood. Signs of the fungus include shelf-shaped conks protruding from the trunks of trees. Spores produced on these conks are blown by the wind and infect other trees. Formal management of this disease is limited, and the disease is controlled primarily by cultural practices. Red ring rot is an important forest disturbance agent and plays a key role in habitat formation for several forest animals.

<i>Armillaria fuscipes</i> Species of fungus

Armillaria fuscipes is a plant pathogen that causes Armillaria root rot on Pinus, coffee plants, tea and various hardwood trees. It is common in South Africa. The mycelium of the fungus is bioluminescent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laminated root rot</span> Fungal plant disease

Laminated root rot also known as yellow ring rot is caused by the fungal pathogen Phellinus weirii. Laminated root rot is one of the most damaging root disease amongst conifers in northwestern America and true firs, Douglas fir, Mountain hemlock, and Western hemlock are highly susceptible to infection with P. weirii. A few species of plants such as Western white pine and Lodgepole pine are tolerant to the pathogen while Ponderosa pine is resistant to it. Only hardwoods are known to be immune to the pathogen.

<i>Armillaria limonea</i> Species of fungus

Armillaria limonea is a species of mushroom in the family Physalacriaceae. This plant pathogen species is one of four Armillaria species that have been identified in Aotearoa New Zealand the others are A. novae-zelandiae,A. hinnulea, A. aotearoa).

<i>Armillaria gallica</i> Species of fungus in the family Physalacriaceae

Armillaria gallica is a species of honey mushroom in the family Physalacriaceae of the order Agaricales. The species is a common and ecologically important wood-decay fungus that can live as a saprobe, or as an opportunistic parasite in weakened tree hosts to cause root or butt rot. It is found in temperate regions of Asia, North America, and Europe. The species forms fruit bodies singly or in groups in soil or rotting wood. The fungus has been inadvertently introduced to South Africa. Armillaria gallica has had a confusing taxonomy, due in part to historical difficulties encountered in distinguishing between similar Armillaria species. The fungus received international attention in the early 1990s when an individual colony living in a Michigan forest was reported to cover an area of 15 hectares, weigh at least 9.5 tonnes, and be 1,500 years old. This individual is popularly known as the "humongous fungus", and is a tourist attraction and inspiration for an annual mushroom-themed festival in Crystal Falls. Recent studies have revised the fungus's age to 2,500 years and its size to about 400 tonnes, four times the original estimate.

Forest pathology is the research of both biotic and abiotic maladies affecting the health of a forest ecosystem, primarily fungal pathogens and their insect vectors. It is a subfield of forestry and plant pathology.

<i>Armillaria</i> root rot Fungal tree disease

Armillaria root rot is a fungal root rot caused by several different members of the genus Armillaria. The symptoms are variable depending on the host infected, ranging from stunted leaves to chlorotic needles and dieback of twigs and branches. However, all infected hosts display symptoms characteristic of being infected by a white rotting fungus. The most effective ways of management focus on limiting the spread of the fungus, planting resistant species, and removing infected material. This disease poses a threat to the lumber industry as well as affecting recreational areas.

<i>Armillaria ostoyae</i> Species of fungus

Armillaria ostoyae is a species of fungus (mushroom), pathogenic to trees, in the family Physalacriaceae. In the western United States, it is the most common variant of the group of species under the name Armillaria mellea. A. ostoyae is common on both hardwood and conifer wood in forests west of the Cascade Range in Oregon, United States. It has decurrent gills and the stipe has a ring. The mycelium invades the sapwood and is able to disseminate over great distances under the bark or between trees in the form of black rhizomorphs ("shoestrings"). In most areas of North America, Armillaria ostoyae can be separated from other species by its physical features: cream-brown colors, prominent cap scales, and a well-developed stem ring distinguish it from other Armillaria. Like several other Armillaria, the mycelium of Armillaria ostoyae can display bioluminescence, resulting in foxfire.

<i>Heterobasidion irregulare</i> Species of fungus

Heterobasidion irregulare is a tree root rotting pathogenic fungus that belongs to the genus Heterobasidion, which includes important pathogens of conifers and other woody plants. It has a wide host and geographic range throughout North America and causes considerable economic damage in pine plantations in the United States. This fungus is also a serious worry in eastern Canada. Heterobasidion irregulare has been introduced to Italy (Lazio)(modifica) where it has been responsible for extensive tree mortality of stone pine. Due to the ecology, disease type, host range/preference, interfertility group, and genetic information, H. irregulare was designated a new species and distinguished from Heterobasidion occidentale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denis Garrett</span> British plant pathologist and mycologist

Stephen Denis Garrett was a British plant pathologist and mycologist who did pioneering work on soil-borne pathogens, root pathology and soil ecology. He was the first to apply ecological concepts to interactions in the soil. Much of his research used as a model system the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis, which causes the important cereal disease take-all. He also studied Armillaria root rot of trees, among other plant diseases.

Armillaria aotearoa is a species of mushroom-forming fungus in the family Physalacriaceae. This plant pathogen species is one of four Armillaria species that have been identified in New Zealand, the others being A. novae-zelandiae, A. limonea, and A. hinnulea.

References

  1. "GSD Species Synonymy: Armillaria novae-zelandiae (G. Stev.) Boesew., N.Z. Jl agric. Res. 20(4): 585 (1977)". Species Fungorum . Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Hood, I. A.; Ramsfield, T. D. (2016). "Armillaria aotearoa species nova". New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science. 46 (1): 2. Bibcode:2016NZJFS..46....2H. doi: 10.1186/s40490-016-0058-y . ISSN   1179-5395.
  3. 1 2 Buchanan, P.; Stewart, G.; Jacob, H (2017). Ngā Hekaheka o Aotearoa. Manaaki Whenua, Landcare Research. pp. 24–27. ISBN   978-1-77550-336-1.
  4. Ridley, G.S. "A System for the Development of English Language Names for Agarics and Boletes in New Zealand (and Australia?)" (PDF). Australasian Mycologist. 23 (1): 27–30.
  5. Hood, I.A. (1989). "Armillaria root disease in New Zealand Forests" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science. 19 (2/3): 180–197.
  6. Stevenson, Greta (1964). "The Agaricales of New Zealand: V". Kew Bulletin. 19 (1): 1–59. doi:10.2307/4108283. ISSN   0075-5974. JSTOR   4108283 via JSTOR.
  7. "Glowing fungi and new rust species among Fungal Foray finds". 12 May 2021.
  8. Coetzee, Martin P. A.; Wingfield, Brenda D.; Wingfield, Michael J. (2018). "Armillaria Root-Rot Pathogens: Species Boundaries and Global Distribution". Pathogens. 7 (4): 83. doi: 10.3390/pathogens7040083 . ISSN   2076-0817. PMC   6313743 . PMID   30356027.
  9. Hall, Ian R.; New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Limited, eds. (1998). Edible and poisonous mushrooms: an introduction. Christchurch, N.Z: Crop & Food Research. ISBN   978-0-478-10806-4.
  10. "Biota of New Zealand. Names and Classification of Bacteria, Fungi, Land Invertebrates and Plants. Armillaria novae-zelandiae (G. Stev.) Herink 1973".
  11. 1 2 3 4 Ridley, G.S.; Dick, M.A. (2001). "An introduction to the diseases of forest and amenity trees in New Zealand". FRI Bulletin. 220: 75–77. ISSN   1174-5096 via Scion Digital Library.
  12. Homer, Ian J. (April 1992). "Epidemiology of Armillaria Root-Rot of Kiwifruit". Acta Horticulturae (297): 573–578. doi:10.17660/actahortic.1992.297.75. ISSN   0567-7572.
  13. Ramsfield, T. D.; Ball, R. D.; Gardner, J. F.; Dick, M. A. (2010-09-02). "Temperature and time combinations required to cause mortality of a range of fungi colonizing wood". Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology. 32 (3): 368–375. Bibcode:2010CaJPP..32..368R. doi:10.1080/07060661.2010.499269. ISSN   0706-0661. S2CID   83629169.
  14. Wargo, Philip M. (1985). "Armillaria Root Rot: The Puzzle Is Being Solved". Plant Disease. 69 (10): 826. doi:10.1094/pd-69-826. ISSN   0191-2917.
  15. Hood, I. (2015). "A Biological Control for Armillaria Root Disease?". Forest Health News. 254: 1–2 via Scion Digital Library.