%0 Research article
%T Susceptibility of silver birch pruning wounds to infection by white-rot fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum), a potential bioherbicide
%A Vartiamäki, Henna
%A Hantula, Jarkko
%A Uotila, Antti
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 4
%R doi:10.14214/sf.179
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/179
%X We artificially inoculated pruning wounds of silver birch (Betula  pendula Roth) to study seasonal variation in their vulnerability to  infection by the fungal decomposer Chondrostereum purpureum (Pers. ex  Fr.) Pouzar. This information is critical to the assessment of  incidental infection risks in areas where C. purpureum may be used as a  bioherbicide. On seven monthly occasions between April and October 2005,  30 birch trees were pruned to yield a total of 210 experimental trees.  On each occasion, 10 trees were inoculated immediately with C. purpureum  mycelium, 10 were inoculated with blank inoculum and 10 were only  pruned. In the summer of 2007, a survey of 129 experimental trees showed  that pruning wounds were most susceptible to infection during May.  Treatment with C. purpureum at other times during the growing season  also increased the extent of discoloration or decay but the effect was  considerably less.