Oak Tree Fungus

Tree fungus is the main and very common cause of tree death. No matter which tree it may be, once the fungi infects it, the tree would eventually wilt and die (if precautions or treatments are not followed soon). The growth of fungi begins from microscopic spores which spread through air, rainwater and dead leaves. If the fungus can be spotted soon on a tree, in some cases, it can be treated properly. Each tree fungus has various signs, so for the purpose of this article, we will only focus on different types of fungi.

The species of fungi which thrive on common oak trees are numerous. The large proportion of fungi, either do little injury or can appear only on dead tree parts such as on the bark or wood of dead branches, leaves and acorns. Fungi is also sometimes known as toadstools, dwarf benches, mushrooms and puffballs. Any oak tree fungi, if gone unnoticed or untreated, has the capacity to fatally affect its health. Before when there wasn't enough information and research, they were thought as a group of plants which lack chlorophyll. However, today fungi is classed as a separate kingdom of living organisms. When a spore germinates on a vulnerable host, with help of permitting ecological weather conditions, oak tree diseases can be caused. It produces hyphae, which are strands of fungal tissue that enter and feed on the host (tree). Now that you understand what these fungi can do, let's take a closer look.

Fungus on Oak Tree

According to "The Flora of California", an oak can take about 100 years to grow into a mature tree. However, it takes every growing thing in the oak around 200 years to kill it. Till the time an oak stands on its own, it will provide a safe habitat for many plants and animals. However, oaks are highly prone to developing various fungal infections. It is essential to understand what type of oak tree fungi is potentially dangerous for them. The fungi which have been found on various oak species are:

• Armillaria spp.
• Inonotus dryophilus
• Ganoderma lucidum
• Inonotus dryadeus (Polyporus dryadeus)
• Grifola frondosa (Polyporus frondosa)
• Laetiporus sulphureus (Polyporus sulphureus)
• Bondarzewia berkeleyi (Polyporus berkeleyi)
• Meripilus sumstinei (Polyporus giganteus)

The following table provides description of basidiocarps (fruiting bodies) and the type of decay produced by the above mentioned species of fungi. They cause root and butt rot of oak trees. As fungus is a cause of infectious diseases in trees, they can turn any healthy, strong tree to become weak and damage from the inside.

Common Species of Fungi
Fungus	Type of Rot	Description
Armillaria spp.	White, yellowish-brown (stringy)	A brown wood decay fungus (mushroom) grown in clusters along with a ring on the stem.
Inonotus dryophilus	White	Brown to reddish-brown in color, grows 3 to 6 feet up the tree trunk.
Ganoderma lucidum	White	A beautiful orangish-maroon mushroom, has hard, sealed top with or without stem.
Inonotus dryadeus	White	Formation of large, creamy top which becomes brown, bumpy, cracked in age, thick margin and round. Found at base of living oaks or recent stumps.
Grifola frondosa	White	A large, multi-branched polypore mushroom which grows in clusters at base of trees. It has gray, fibrous top.
Laetiporus sulphureus	Brown cube-shaped	A species of bracket fungus that grows on tree trunks and branches. Has golden-yellow shelf-like structure; undersurface body has tube-like pores.
Bondarzewia berkeleyi	Stringy white	Creamy white to yellowish surface, appears maze-like, edible when young, gets bitter with age. Grows at base of oaks, around decaying stumps or from buried roots.
Meripilus sumstinei	White	Forms large, dense clusters on ground, around stumps and living trees. Wrinkled, fine hair, has bruising black pores 4-7 per mm.

Out of the mentioned fungi in the table, Inonotus dryadeus is one of the most common wood decay species. One way to rid of the fungi is to use various fungicides made specifically for these types of fungus. The best method to protect and prevent the fungi is to take necessary precautions beforehand. You should always make sure that your trees are planted in well-drained areas with no damp swampy locations. Fungus usually gets attracted to such areas. While mowing the lawn, take utmost care of not injuring the tree, as even a small nick can become problematic. Apply antifungal spray or sealer if there are any nicks on the trees. Remember, preventing oak tree fungi is much easier and cheaper than treating the diseased tree later on.