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The host plants of fomes annosus
Macrophomina Phaseoli (Maubl.). Ashby
147
(II) PETRAK, F. Mykologische Notizen, 289. Ann. Mycol, XXI (1923), 314-315. (12) SYDOW, H. and P., and BUTLER, E. J. Fungi Indiae orientalis, Ann. Myco!. XIV (1916), 187. (13) Anonymous. A new fungus pest of beans. Science, N.S. LXIV (1926), 10, No. 1655. (14) Plant Disease Reporter (Bur. Plant Ind. U.S. Dept. Agric. IX (1925), 60; X (1926), 18,59,81, 120.) (15) MAUBLANC, A. Bull. Soc. Myc. France, XXI (1905), 90. (16) PETRAK, F. and SYDOW, H. Die Gattungen der Pyrenomyzeten, Sphaeropsideen und Melanconieen (1926), I Teil, I Lief, II3-I26. (Repertoriurn specierum novarum regni vegetabilis, XLII, I Beihefte.) (17) - - - - Ann. Mycol. XXIII (1925),226. (18) MARTIN, W. H. Sclerotium bataticota-the cause of a fruit rat of peppers. Phytopath. VII (1917), 3°8-312. (19) SMALL, W. Sclerotium bataticola Taub. Trap. Agric. (Ceylon), LXVII (1926), NO.2. (20) - - Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) But!. Trap. Agric, LXVII (1926), NO·4· (21) FINLOW, R S. Rhizoctonia in jute. Agric. Journ. India, Science Congress Number (1918), pp. 65-72. (22) JACOB. Effect of potash fertilisation on the stem-rot of Chinese jute. Erniihrung der Pftanze, xx (1924), 146-147. (Abs. in Rev. Appl. Myc. IV (1925),35-36.)
THE HOST PLANTS OF FOMES ANNOSUS. By Malcolm Wilson. THE Red Rot or Heart Rot caused by F omes annosus has been long recognised in this and in other countries of Western Europe as one of the most important diseases of conifers. In this country the disease has assumed increasing importance during recent years on account of the extensive schemes of afforestation which are being carried out, and any facts regarding its distribution and biology are consequently of importance. In this country M. L. Anderson (I, 2) has recently recorded its occurrence on the following coniferous species: Pinus sylvestris, Picea excelsa, P. siichensis, Larix europaea, L. leptolepis, Tsuga albertiana, Abies grandis, Thuya gigantea and Pseudotsuga
Douglasii.
To this list must be added Pinus Laricio, Abies nobilis and A. pectinaia, and it appears probable that all coniferous species may be attacked. It has not been observed on Pinus Strobus in this country but has been recorded on this species by Hartig (3) and on Abies balsamea by Tubeuf un. Its occurrence on Juniperus communis also has been reported by Hartig «3), p. r86) in Germany, and recently the fungus was found attacking this species in Scotland. Fomes annosus appears to be chiefly a European species, for although it has been recorded in North America on Pinus monticola and other conifers, its occurrence there appears to be unusual and it docs not seem to be of any importance as the
148
Transactions British Mycological Society
cause of disease in the United States (8, ro , 12). Practically all the American conifers that have been introduced into this country have been seriously attacked by the disease, and the fact may perhaps be explained on the supposition that the American fungus differs at least physiologically from the British species. There is no doubt that Fomes annosus does occur on a considerable number of dicotyledonous trees and shrubs but its distribution on these hosts appears to differ considerably in the different countries of Europe. Lind ((5), p. 386) in Denmark records it on eleven dicotyledonous species including Quercus Robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Fagus sylvatica, Betula alba, Prunus avium, Pyrus Aucuparia, Ulmus montana and Calluna vulgaris. On the other hand, Lagerberg (4) states that he has been unable to find any attack on dicotyledonous trees in Scandinavia. In Germany, however, it has been recorded on Betula alba (3), Corylus Avellana and Alnus glutinosa ((9), p. 6r), Acer sp. ((7), p. 422) and on Fagus sylvatica and Craiaegus Oxyacantha ((II), p. 450), while Prillieux ((6), T. I, p. 325) mentions it on five dicotyledonous species including Quercus Ilex, although it is not clear that his list refers especially to France. It has been collected on various deciduous trees in North West America (rz). Its distribution on dicotyledons in Scotland appears to be fairly similar to that in France, Germany and Denmark; it has been found on the following species: Fagus sylvatica, Betula alba, Corylus Avellana, Alnus glutinosa, Prunus Padus, Pyrus A ucuparia, Pyrus Aria, Crataegus Oxyacantha and Rhododendron ponticum var. Up to the present it has not been found on Calluna vulgaris in this country and this fact may be of importance, especially in Scotland where heather is found over wide areas which are suitable for afforestation. Its occurrence on Rhododendron ponticum which is so commonly found in plantations may be also a fact of considerable significance. The importance of the occurrence of Fomes annosus upon angiosperms rests on the assumption that the fungus from them can infect conifers. No experimental work appears to have been carried out on this point and until it is done the question must be left open. It is well known that coniferous plantations formed on what was previously arable ground are often severely attacked by F omes annosus and the origin of the fungus in these cases has been somewhat difficult to explain, especially when the plantations are at some distance from other coniferous woods. The fact that the fungus can grow on a number of dicotyledonous trees, among which are several common hedgerow species, seems to offer a possible explanation. Its occurrence on oak and birch
Hosts of F omes annosus . Malcolm Wilson
149
may explain the frequent appearance of the disease when scrub areas, covered by these species, are cleared and planted up with conifers. I wish to thank Dr A. W. Borthwick and Messrs James Fraser and J. Macdonald of the Forestry Commission and Dr M. L. Anderson and Messrs G. Leven and J. S. L. Waldie who have kindly supplied me with information on this subject. REFERENCES. (I) ANDERSON, M. L.
Soil Conditions affecting the Prevalence of Fames annosu s iTrametes radiciperdas. Trans. Roy. Scot. Arbor. Soc. xxxv
(1921), II2. (2) - - Heart Rot in Conifers. Trans. Roy. Scot. Arbor. Soc. XXXVIII (19 2 4), 37· (3) HARTIG, R. The Diseases of Trees. Eng. Trans. London, 1894.
(4) LAGERBERG, T. Rotomas Betydelse for Granen och dess Avkastning. Skogs. For. Tids. H. II-I2 (1923), 313. (5) LIND,]. Danish Fungi. Copenhagen, 1913. (6) PRILLIEUX, E. Maladies des Plantes agricoles. Paris, 1895. (7) !{ABENHORST, G. L. Deutschlands Krytogamen Flora. I. Leipzig, 1844. (8) I{ANKIN, W. H. Manual of Tree Diseases. New York, 1918. (9) l{OSTKOVIUS, F. W. T. In Sturm, Deutschlands Flora. IV. Die Pilze Deutschlands, Niirnberg, 1838. (IO) SCHRENK, H. VON. Some Diseases of New England Conifers. U.S. Dept. Agric., Bull. 25, 1900. (II) TUBEUF, C. VON. Diseases of Plants. Eng. Trans. by W. G. Smith, London, 1897. (12) WEIR,]. R. Notes on Wood-destroying Fungi which grow on both coniferous and deciduous trees. Phytopathology, IV (1914), 275. (13) WEIR, ]. R. and HUBERT, E. E. A Study of the Rots of the Western White Pine. U.S. Dept. Agric. non. 7(j
THE RATE OF GROWTH OF LICHENS. By L. Porter, M.5c., University College, Cork. RECENT work on the rate of growth of lichens has been summarised by Miss Lorrain Smith in the Transactions for 1923 and 1925. Linkola's work on species of Parmelia, growing on palings, showed the average rate to be I mm. per annum. This is exceeded by P. cenirifuga on rocks, with a rate of 2'5 mm. per annum. From these measurements the ages of different specimens were deduced, e.g. P. sulcata, 30-40 years; P. centrifuga, 50-80, On the other hand, Tobler, in examining species of Cetraria on beech and spruce, found that the rate of growth was I em. per annum. Miss Lorrain Smith points out that Tobler was dealing with young plants, often composite forms from the mingling of
147
(II) PETRAK, F. Mykologische Notizen, 289. Ann. Mycol, XXI (1923), 314-315. (12) SYDOW, H. and P., and BUTLER, E. J. Fungi Indiae orientalis, Ann. Myco!. XIV (1916), 187. (13) Anonymous. A new fungus pest of beans. Science, N.S. LXIV (1926), 10, No. 1655. (14) Plant Disease Reporter (Bur. Plant Ind. U.S. Dept. Agric. IX (1925), 60; X (1926), 18,59,81, 120.) (15) MAUBLANC, A. Bull. Soc. Myc. France, XXI (1905), 90. (16) PETRAK, F. and SYDOW, H. Die Gattungen der Pyrenomyzeten, Sphaeropsideen und Melanconieen (1926), I Teil, I Lief, II3-I26. (Repertoriurn specierum novarum regni vegetabilis, XLII, I Beihefte.) (17) - - - - Ann. Mycol. XXIII (1925),226. (18) MARTIN, W. H. Sclerotium bataticota-the cause of a fruit rat of peppers. Phytopath. VII (1917), 3°8-312. (19) SMALL, W. Sclerotium bataticola Taub. Trap. Agric. (Ceylon), LXVII (1926), NO.2. (20) - - Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) But!. Trap. Agric, LXVII (1926), NO·4· (21) FINLOW, R S. Rhizoctonia in jute. Agric. Journ. India, Science Congress Number (1918), pp. 65-72. (22) JACOB. Effect of potash fertilisation on the stem-rot of Chinese jute. Erniihrung der Pftanze, xx (1924), 146-147. (Abs. in Rev. Appl. Myc. IV (1925),35-36.)
THE HOST PLANTS OF FOMES ANNOSUS. By Malcolm Wilson. THE Red Rot or Heart Rot caused by F omes annosus has been long recognised in this and in other countries of Western Europe as one of the most important diseases of conifers. In this country the disease has assumed increasing importance during recent years on account of the extensive schemes of afforestation which are being carried out, and any facts regarding its distribution and biology are consequently of importance. In this country M. L. Anderson (I, 2) has recently recorded its occurrence on the following coniferous species: Pinus sylvestris, Picea excelsa, P. siichensis, Larix europaea, L. leptolepis, Tsuga albertiana, Abies grandis, Thuya gigantea and Pseudotsuga
Douglasii.
To this list must be added Pinus Laricio, Abies nobilis and A. pectinaia, and it appears probable that all coniferous species may be attacked. It has not been observed on Pinus Strobus in this country but has been recorded on this species by Hartig (3) and on Abies balsamea by Tubeuf un. Its occurrence on Juniperus communis also has been reported by Hartig «3), p. r86) in Germany, and recently the fungus was found attacking this species in Scotland. Fomes annosus appears to be chiefly a European species, for although it has been recorded in North America on Pinus monticola and other conifers, its occurrence there appears to be unusual and it docs not seem to be of any importance as the
148
Transactions British Mycological Society
cause of disease in the United States (8, ro , 12). Practically all the American conifers that have been introduced into this country have been seriously attacked by the disease, and the fact may perhaps be explained on the supposition that the American fungus differs at least physiologically from the British species. There is no doubt that Fomes annosus does occur on a considerable number of dicotyledonous trees and shrubs but its distribution on these hosts appears to differ considerably in the different countries of Europe. Lind ((5), p. 386) in Denmark records it on eleven dicotyledonous species including Quercus Robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Fagus sylvatica, Betula alba, Prunus avium, Pyrus Aucuparia, Ulmus montana and Calluna vulgaris. On the other hand, Lagerberg (4) states that he has been unable to find any attack on dicotyledonous trees in Scandinavia. In Germany, however, it has been recorded on Betula alba (3), Corylus Avellana and Alnus glutinosa ((9), p. 6r), Acer sp. ((7), p. 422) and on Fagus sylvatica and Craiaegus Oxyacantha ((II), p. 450), while Prillieux ((6), T. I, p. 325) mentions it on five dicotyledonous species including Quercus Ilex, although it is not clear that his list refers especially to France. It has been collected on various deciduous trees in North West America (rz). Its distribution on dicotyledons in Scotland appears to be fairly similar to that in France, Germany and Denmark; it has been found on the following species: Fagus sylvatica, Betula alba, Corylus Avellana, Alnus glutinosa, Prunus Padus, Pyrus A ucuparia, Pyrus Aria, Crataegus Oxyacantha and Rhododendron ponticum var. Up to the present it has not been found on Calluna vulgaris in this country and this fact may be of importance, especially in Scotland where heather is found over wide areas which are suitable for afforestation. Its occurrence on Rhododendron ponticum which is so commonly found in plantations may be also a fact of considerable significance. The importance of the occurrence of Fomes annosus upon angiosperms rests on the assumption that the fungus from them can infect conifers. No experimental work appears to have been carried out on this point and until it is done the question must be left open. It is well known that coniferous plantations formed on what was previously arable ground are often severely attacked by F omes annosus and the origin of the fungus in these cases has been somewhat difficult to explain, especially when the plantations are at some distance from other coniferous woods. The fact that the fungus can grow on a number of dicotyledonous trees, among which are several common hedgerow species, seems to offer a possible explanation. Its occurrence on oak and birch
Hosts of F omes annosus . Malcolm Wilson
149
may explain the frequent appearance of the disease when scrub areas, covered by these species, are cleared and planted up with conifers. I wish to thank Dr A. W. Borthwick and Messrs James Fraser and J. Macdonald of the Forestry Commission and Dr M. L. Anderson and Messrs G. Leven and J. S. L. Waldie who have kindly supplied me with information on this subject. REFERENCES. (I) ANDERSON, M. L.
Soil Conditions affecting the Prevalence of Fames annosu s iTrametes radiciperdas. Trans. Roy. Scot. Arbor. Soc. xxxv
(1921), II2. (2) - - Heart Rot in Conifers. Trans. Roy. Scot. Arbor. Soc. XXXVIII (19 2 4), 37· (3) HARTIG, R. The Diseases of Trees. Eng. Trans. London, 1894.
(4) LAGERBERG, T. Rotomas Betydelse for Granen och dess Avkastning. Skogs. For. Tids. H. II-I2 (1923), 313. (5) LIND,]. Danish Fungi. Copenhagen, 1913. (6) PRILLIEUX, E. Maladies des Plantes agricoles. Paris, 1895. (7) !{ABENHORST, G. L. Deutschlands Krytogamen Flora. I. Leipzig, 1844. (8) I{ANKIN, W. H. Manual of Tree Diseases. New York, 1918. (9) l{OSTKOVIUS, F. W. T. In Sturm, Deutschlands Flora. IV. Die Pilze Deutschlands, Niirnberg, 1838. (IO) SCHRENK, H. VON. Some Diseases of New England Conifers. U.S. Dept. Agric., Bull. 25, 1900. (II) TUBEUF, C. VON. Diseases of Plants. Eng. Trans. by W. G. Smith, London, 1897. (12) WEIR,]. R. Notes on Wood-destroying Fungi which grow on both coniferous and deciduous trees. Phytopathology, IV (1914), 275. (13) WEIR, ]. R. and HUBERT, E. E. A Study of the Rots of the Western White Pine. U.S. Dept. Agric. non. 7(j
THE RATE OF GROWTH OF LICHENS. By L. Porter, M.5c., University College, Cork. RECENT work on the rate of growth of lichens has been summarised by Miss Lorrain Smith in the Transactions for 1923 and 1925. Linkola's work on species of Parmelia, growing on palings, showed the average rate to be I mm. per annum. This is exceeded by P. cenirifuga on rocks, with a rate of 2'5 mm. per annum. From these measurements the ages of different specimens were deduced, e.g. P. sulcata, 30-40 years; P. centrifuga, 50-80, On the other hand, Tobler, in examining species of Cetraria on beech and spruce, found that the rate of growth was I em. per annum. Miss Lorrain Smith points out that Tobler was dealing with young plants, often composite forms from the mingling of