Heterobasidion annosum root rot in Picea abies: Modelling economic outcomes of stump treatment in Scandinavian coniferous forests

Abstract

The economic outcomes of stump treatment against spore infections of the root rot pathogen Heterobasiodion annosum s. l. were analysed based on simulations in four stands typical of Swedish forestry and forest management: (A) Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] stand on former agricultural soil (SI 0/32), (B) Norway spruce stand (SI 0/26) on forest land; (C) Mixed stand of Norway spruce and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (SI 0/24) with only H. parviporum present, i.e. no infection of Scots pine and no possibility of interspecies spread of disease between hosts; and (D) same as C, but H. annosum s. str. (Fr.) Bref and H. parviporum Niemelä & Korhonen present, i.e. interspecies spread of disease possible.Models for disease development, growth and yield and cross-cutting were used in the simulations. The simulated decay frequency in Norway spruce trees ranged between 2 and 90%. Stump treatment at the previous final felling and in all thinning operations was profitable at interest rates 1 and 3% in stands A, B and D, but not in stand C. In stand C, no stump treatment at all or treatment in thinnings only gave the highest net future value. Implications for stump treatment in practical forestry are discussed.

Accuracy of the Rotfinder instrument in detecting decay on Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees

“…At 0.30 and at 0.60 m, Rotfinder can be considered a 'good' test if we accept that trees with small decay columns (<10% or <15%) will probably be classified as healthy. This setup may be appropriate for regular forestry measurements in which, for example, the user is aiming to discriminate between premium spruce pulpwood and normal (sulphate) pulpwood with minimum quality requirements of 10% and 50% of decay in the section, respectively (Thor et al, 2006a). If the aim of the test is to detect incipient decay, then other techniques may be more suitable.…”

Urea treatment reduced Heterobasidion annosum s.l. root rot in Picea abies after 15 years

“…Stump protection against airborne spore infection is one of the main control strategies. It is economically viable (Thor et al, 2006), and it has usually been achieved through spraying stump surfaces either with spore suspensions of other more competitive fungi or with chemicals such as urea or borate www.elsevier.com/locate/foreco Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Forest Ecology and Management 255 (2008) 2876-2882 (Pratt et al, 1998;Holdenrieder and Greig, 1998). Today, the most widespread control method is based on the decay fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.)…”

Reaction zone and periodic increment decrease in Picea abies trees infected by Heterobasidion annosum s.l.

“…Recently, the long-term effect of protection treatments has been demonstrated (Oliva et al, 2008(Oliva et al, , 2010. Good estimates of the detrimental effects on H. annosum infection are required in order to demonstrate the economic viability of stump treatment (Möykkynen et al, 1998(Möykkynen et al, , 2000Pukkala et al, 2005;Thor et al, 2006).…”