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Fungi decaying stems of fallen tawa
(Beilschmiedia tawa) trees in the
central North Island of New Zealand
a a
I. A. Hood & J. F. Gardner
a
Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd) , PO Box 3020,
Rotorua, 3046, New Zealand
Published online: 18 Feb 2010.
To cite this article: I. A. Hood & J. F. Gardner (2009) Fungi decaying stems of fallen tawa
(Beilschmiedia tawa) trees in the central North Island of New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of
Botany, 47:2, 115-119, DOI: 10.1080/00288250909509797
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00288250909509797
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and-conditionsNew Zealand Journal of Botany, 2009, Vol. 47: 115-119 115
0028-825X/09/4702-0115 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2009
Short communication
Fungi decaying stems of fallen tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa) trees
in the central North Island of New Zealand
I. A. HOOD INTRODUCTION
J. F. GARDNER As part of a programme to determine the decompo-
Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd) sition rates of coarse woody debris in indigenous
PO Box 3020 forests (Beets et al. 2008), we have investigated the
Rotorua 3046, New Zealand principal basidiomycete decay fungi active within
fallen trees at two locations in the central North Island
(Hood et al. 1989, 2004, 2008). Tree species studied
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Abstract The principal decay fungi active within were Dacrydium cupressinum Lamb., Nothofagus
the decomposing stems of six uprooted trees of fusca (Hook.f.) Oerst, N. menziesii (Hook.f.) Oerst,
Beilschmiedia tawa in a dense podocarp forest were and Prumnopitys taxifolia (D.Don) de Laub. A
determined by isolating onto a culture medium significant finding was that major decomposers of
selective for basidiomycetes. The most common all four species included Ganoderma applanatum
fungi obtained were species of Armillaria and sensu Wakef. and species of Armillaria (Fr.) Staude.
Ganoderma applanatum sensu Wakef., a finding Subsequent to this work we have undertaken a sim ilar
consistent with comparable results from other examination of the predominant decay fungi active
indigenous tree species in earlier central North Island in uprooted trees of another important tree species,
studies. The ascomycete species Kretzschmaria Beilschmiedia tawa (A.Cunn.) Kirk (Lauraceae), and
zelandica, present in two of the trees, was obtained the results of the study form the basis of this report.
only after eliminating benomyl and streptomycin as Data obtained were included along with those from
constituents from the selective culture medium. A the other species in the decay rate analyses of Beets
previously determined spatial relationship between et al. (2008). This note reports additional information
fruiting by G. cf. applanatum and presence within not included in that publication.
the stem, as revealed by isolation, was supported in
this study. It therefore appears that for B. tawa, also,
distribution of fruitbodies is a reliable indicator of
internal colonisation by this species. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The investigation was undertaken in a dense podocarp
Keywords Beilschmiedia tawa; Armillaria; forest in Whirinaki Forest Park near Minginui east
Ganoderma cf. applanatum; Kretzschmaria of Murupara, in the sam e stand as that described for
zelandica; podocarp forest; coarse woody debris; the trees of D. cupressinum and P. taxifolia (Hood et
wood decay; decomposition; isolation; basidiocarp; al. 2004). Six uprooted £. tawa trees were arbitrarily
ascocarp selected within a distance of 250 m, five having
fallen during a storm in 1982, and the sixth between
1982 and 1997. Stem diameters at breast height
(1.4 m above original ground level) averaged 44.0
± 10.8 cm (mean and standard deviation). In April
2007, three discs 4-6 cm thick were cut from each
tree, one at breast height, a second at approximately
one-half, and a third at approximately three-quarters
along the available stem length. Distances between
discs averaged 5.8 ± 2.5 m (mean and standard
B08033; Online publication date 26 June 2009 deviation; range, 2.8-9.9 m), and diameters of
Received 25 September 2008; accepted 3 April 2009 the 18 discs averaged 37.8 ± 12.4 cm (mean and116 New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2009, Vol. 47
12 6-12 0-E Fig. 1 Design for isolating from
each disc (diagrammatic). After
Isolation points * cutting two mutually opposite sec-
tors along the horizontal diameter,
each was split aseptically down the
radial longitudinal plane. Isola-
tions were then made from the new
surface at points along a radius
in the zones 0-6.0, 6.1-12.0, and
>12.0 cm deep.
Sector a
Disc Sector b
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standard deviation). Discs were sealed individually for numbers on each type of culture medium) or
in polythene bags and stored at 4°C. Where present, separately for those on each medium in each depth
a record was made of the distribution of fruitbodies zone. The probability of a relationship between
of the decay fungus G. cf. applanatum along the fruiting by G. cf. applanatum and presence of this
stems in relation to the disc sampling positions. species within stems was examined using Fisher's
Locations of fruitbodies and signs of other species exact test. Data from all trees were used to construct
were also noted. a 2 x 2 contingency table of discs yielding or not
Isolations for decay fungi were undertaken in the yielding cultures of this species by those with or
laboratory within 7 weeks of field sampling. Two without fruitbodies. Discs were accepted as positive
radially oriented blocks (sectors) were cut extending if they were cut at a locus within a sequence of
in from the circumference towards the centre of fruitbodies, and negative if they were situated outside
each disc. Sectors were selected on opposite sides and not closer than 4 m to the nearest fruitbody.
of the disc along the horizontal diameter, as in the
intact stem (Fig. 1). Each block was split aseptically
down the radial longitudinal plane and, as described
in Hood et al. (2008), 20 small chips were cut from RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
the freshly exposed surface along a radial line, Basidiomy cete fungi were cultured from an average
six from the outer 0-6.0 cm zone, seven from the of 59% of isolation attempts on both media in all
6.1-12.0 cm zone, and seven from the zone deeper radial depth zones (Table 1). Therefore, by 25 years
than 12.0 cm. Chips were plated onto a medium after windfall, decay fungi had penetrated throughout
selective for basidiomycetes consisting of 2% malt the stems of the Beilschmiedia tawa study trees.
agar supplemented with 100 ppm streptomycin The species identified were comparatively low in
sulfate and 10 ppm benomyl. For two trees bearing number (Table 1), no doubt reflecting the relatively
fruitbodies of a xylariaceous ascomycete, a second limited sampling coverage (three discs from each
set of chips from both sectors in all discs was plated tree). However, this pattern is typical of results from
onto 2% malt agar without the potentially inhibiting the earlier studies in this forest, and the sampling
ingredients present in the selective medium. In all, was sufficient to identify the major decay fungi
918 isolation attempts were made from the six trees. present in these stems. A full inventory of the
Emerging cultures were sorted and identified where complete decomposer biodiversity would require
possible as previously described (Hood et al. 2008). more intensive sampling supplemented by periodic
Percentages of isolation attempts yielding different collection offruitbodies of uncommon species likely
fungi were calculated for "units" consisting of each to be missed altogether during isolation (Hood et al.
of the three radial depth zones in each sector. Total 2008). The most frequently obtained basidiomycetes
number of units was 103 (6 trees x 3 discs x 2 sectors were species of GanodermaandArmillaria. Isolates of
y- 3 depth zones, less 5 units where the sectors did Armillariawere not determined further, but previous
not extend deeper than 12 cm radially). Values were records from this site were of A. novae-zelandiae
averaged across all units (weighting proportionately (G.Stev.)Herink and A limonea (G.Stev.)Boesew.,Hood & Gardner—Fungi decaying tawa stems 117
both of which are known onB. tawa (MacKenzie & wereRigidoporusconcrescens(Mont)Rajchenb. and
Shaw 1977; Hood et al. 2004). Ganoderma isolates Sistotrema sp., both of which have also previously
were accepted as G. cf. applanatum because of the been cultured from different tree species at this
plentiful fruiting by this species, only, on the study site (Table 1). Cultures of Sistotrema sp., formerly
trees (Hood et al. 2004). The prominence of these identified as S. brinkmannii (Bres.) J.Erikss. (Hood
fungi among all the isolates obtained is consistent et al. 2004), were not distinguishable from those
with results from the other indigenous tree species of S. otagense (G.Cunn.) Stalpers & P.K.Buchanan
in which the same species were also predominant, isolated from material at the Nothofagus location.
along with Cyclomyces tabacinus (Mont.) Pat. in Cultures of S. otagense were identified by features
Nothofagus hosts (Hood et al. 2004, 2008). that included basidiospore size and morphology
Armillaria sp(p). were especially common among (Hood et al. 2008). Since basidiospores were not seen
the basidiomycetes present withinS. tawa, andwere during the present or earlier studies at the Whirinaki
cultured from 28 (78%) of the 36 possible sectors site, the precise identity of the Sistotrema species at
at a mean yield of 41% of isolation attempts from this location has not been confirmed. A number of
all units (Table 1). In contrast to the earlier studies other basidiomycete species isolated less frequently
with other tree species, in which isolates were in the Nothofagus study were not obtained from B.
obtained more towards the periphery, Armillaria tawa (Hood et al. 2008).
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sp(p). showed extensive colonisation throughout all Fruitbodies of the ascomycete Kretzschmaria
depth zones inS. tawa. Of the 64 units from which zelandica J.D.Rogers & Y.M.Ju were present
Armillaria sp(p). were obtained, 56 (91%) yielded on two study trees 75 m apart associated with a
cultures of these species alone, implying exclusive white rot accompanied by black, pseudosclerotial
occupation. Stumps of B. tawa were once a cause for zone plates (Table 1; collections NZFRI 5406M,
concern as a focus for armillaria root disease centres 5407M, 5429M, 5430M, Forest Research Mycology
when indigenous forests were formerly replaced by Herbarium, Rotorua, New Zealand). This species
plantations of Firms radiata D.Don (MacKenzie was isolated deeper than 6 cm from one or both
& Shaw 1977; Shaw & Calderon 1977; van der sectors, respectively, from a single disc from each tree
Pas 1981). Ganoderma cf. applanatum was also (cultures NZFS 2920, 2921, 2922, Forest Research
prominent among the basidiomycetes in B. tawa, Culture Collection, Rotorua, New Zealand). Cultures
being cultured from six sectors in three discs from were obtained only on the malt agar medium devoid
two trees, with an average yield of 15% of isolation of benomyl and streptomycin, indicating that, for a
attempts across all units. Sole occupancy was also comprehensive evaluation of coarse woody debris
reasonably high for this species, which was obtained that includes ascomycete species, isolation should
exclusively from 60% of the units in which it was be undertaken using both culture media. However,
present. Other basidiomycetes identified in this study although locally significant, yields of K. zelandica
Table 1 Means of percentage isolation attempts1 yielding decay fungi, by radial depth zone and isolation medium.
Malt agar with benomyl and Malt agar only
streptomycin sulfate (six trees) (two trees)
Radial depth zone (cm) Radial depth zone (cm)
Fungi No. trees^ 0-6.0 6.1-12 >12 0-6.0 6.1-12 >12
Ganoderma cf. applanatum 2 7 11 16 22 23 32
Armillaria sp(p.). 6 43 45 39 28 52 34
Rigidoporus concrescens 1 0 2 2 0 0 0
Sistotrema sp. 3 2 0 0 1 0 0
Other basidiomycetes 4 2 2 0 0 0 1
Kretzschmaria zelandica 2 0 0 0 0 1 18
All basidiomycetes 6 54". 59 57 52 75 67
All decay fungi •6 54 59 57 52 77 85
n (No. sectors) 36 36 31 12 11 12
'Rounded to nearest integer.
2
Number of trees yielding specified fungi (data from both isolation media).118 New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2009, Vol. 47
averaged only 7% across all units on the malt agar (based on comparisons between context isolates
medium, suggesting that not too much is lost at the from authenticated fruitbodies: NZFRI 5476M,
wider scale when resource constraints necessitate 5477M; NZFS 3005-3013; I. A. Hoodunpubl. data).
isolation using the basidiomycete selective medium Fruitbodies of G. australe were not found on the
alone. Cultures of K. zelandica stained positive fallen stems of any of the tree species sampled during
with moderate intensity in oc-naphthol, confirming our different investigations even though one was
the production of laccase, and indicating white rot collected from a dead standing tree at the Nofhofagus
activity by this species (Stalpers 1978). site (NZFRI 5505M). Ganoderma australe has a
For a number of species of decay fungi, a spatial broad distribution range but m ay occur infrequently,
association was indicated between fruiting or other requiring the sampling of greater numbers of fallen
fungal signs and occurrence within tree stems. trees before it is detected. Airborne basidiospores of
Fructifications of K. zelandica were present at the G. cf. applanatum (as G. mastoporum (Lev.) Pat.)
same disc positions on both trees from which it were abundant during an aerobiological investigation
was isolated, and were observed only at these loci. in Auckland, whereas those of G. australe were
Characteristic honeycomb pocket decay spanned the collected only occasionally (Hasnain et al. 1984).
two disc positions from which R. concrescens was Many more herbarium specimens have been collected
obtained (Hood et al. 1989), and new fruitbodies of G. cf. applanatum than of G. australe (Buchanan
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of this species were present on a cut face at one of &Wilkie 1995).
these positions on a subsequent visit. Evidence of
typical older decay in the form of surface scalloping
was also apparent on a number of the study trees
along the lengths of stem from which Armillaria ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
was isolated. Cultures of G. cf. applanatum were
also obtained only from stem segments bearing Thanks are expressed for assistance during this study
fruitbodies, and for this species a significant to Peter Beets, Brenda Callan, Graeme Oliver, Stephen
Pearce, and Greg Steward, and to two anonymous referees
relationship was demonstrated between fruiting and who made useful comments on the manuscript. Funding
internal colonisation (p = 0.0049, n = 18, Fisher's was provided by the Foundation for Research, Science and
exact test). This result supports the earlier conclusion Technology, and access to the site was facilitated through
that visible fruiting by G. cf. applanatum is a reliable the Department of Conservation.
indicator of occurrence within stems as determined by
isolation of cultures. In this smaller study, reliability
was 100%, since all discs with or without associated
fruitbodies yielded or did not yield cultures of G. cf. REFERENCES
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