NEW INFORMATION CONCERNING BALSAM FIR DECAYS IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

Abstract

Four separate investigations of decay in balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) have been carried out in recent years by forest pathologists in Eastern North America. Early in these studies it became apparent that the existing ideas concerning the identity of the fungi responsible for decay in living balsam fir trees required considerable revision. Trunk rot was confirmed as being caused mainly by Stereum sanguinolentum Alb. and Schw. ex Fries; however, five fungi, headed by Corticium galactinum (Fries) Burt, were found associated with most of the white stringy butt rots, and two fungi, Coniophora puteana (Schum. ex Fries) Karst. and Polyporus balsameus Peck, were associated with most of the brown cubical butt rots. Hitherto Poria subacida (Peck) Sacc. and P. balsameus were believed to cause practically all white and brown butt rots, respectively, in this species. The effect of site on the decay of living balsam fir is discussed, as is the extent and kind of decay with which each of the nine predominant heart-rot fungi was found associated. A brief outline is presented concerning the fungi found associated with the deterioration of dead balsam fir.