INFECTION OF BALSAM FIR, ABIES BALSAMEA (L.) MILL., BY STEREUM SANGUINOLENTUM (ALB. AND SCHW. EX FR.) FR.

Abstract

Studies in the Maritime Provinces and Quebec showed that Stereum sanguinolentum behaves as a primary invader of the heartwood of living balsam fir, becoming established in the trees only as a result of injuries to living stems and branches. These observations were largely confirmed by artificial inoculations. Other factors apparently influencing infection were the age of the wound, size of wounded part, and time of injury. The rate of decay was found to increase with increasing size of injury but was not influenced by the origin of the infection or the location of stands. Implications of the findings and the factors requiring additional study are discussed.