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Is Ischnoderma benzoinum a competitor or contributor to Heterobasidion annosum decomposition of pine and spruce wood? A comparison to Phlebiopsis gigantea

Summary

This research examined how three wood-decomposing fungi interact when competing for the same wood resources. Scientists tested whether Ischnoderma benzoinum helps or hinders the harmful root rot fungus Heterobasidion annosum in pine and spruce forests. They found that the outcome depends on which fungus isolates are involved and which tree species is affected, with some combinations showing strong competition while others showed cooperative decomposition.

Background

Heterobasidion annosum is a damaging root rot pathogen in coniferous forests causing significant economic losses. Ischnoderma benzoinum is a white rot fungus increasingly found in coniferous stands, but its ecological role and competitive interactions with H. annosum remain poorly understood.

Objective

This study investigated the growth dynamics, wood decay capacity, and competitive interactions of two I. benzoinum isolates with two H. annosum isolates and the biocontrol fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea to determine whether I. benzoinum functions as a competitor or contributor to wood decomposition.

Results

Both I. benzoinum isolates exhibited growth rates comparable to H. annosum on medium. On spruce wood, I. benzoinum caused the greatest mass loss, whereas H. annosum dominated on pine. Competitive outcomes varied markedly by isolate origin and host species, with the pine-derived I. benzoinum strongly suppressing pine-derived H. annosum, while spruce-derived H. annosum outcompeted both I. benzoinum isolates.

Conclusion

I. benzoinum can function either as a strong competitor or as a co-colonizer with H. annosum, with interaction outcomes determined by isolate origin and host tree species. The capacity of I. benzoinum to match H. annosum in wood decay efficiency, particularly on spruce, suggests it influences disease progression and nutrient cycling in coniferous forests.
  • Published in:IMA Fungus,
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40969658, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.152556
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