White mushrooms on the tree trunk raise questions. What types of mushrooms are these? Do the fruiting bodies pose a danger to the tree? Should you remove the mushrooms? Read the answers here.
Is white fungus on tree trunk harmful?
White fungus on the tree trunk is thevisible symptom of a destructive tree disease. Tree fungi such as honey fungus, sulfur fungus and tinder fungus cause white rot or brown rot, which damages a tree from the inside out. Remove the fruiting bodies to prevent the fungal spores from spreading.
Which white mushrooms grow on the tree trunk?
Common mushrooms on tree trunks withwhite fruiting body are aniseed tramete (Trametes suaveolens), birch porling (Piptoporus betulinus), burnt crust mushroom (Kretzschmaria deusta) and red-edged tree sponge (Fomitopsis pinicola).) with white underside.
White rot-causing fungihave acolored fruiting body, decompose the supporting building material lignin, whereupon the wood turns white. Prime examples are honey mushroom (Armillaria), black mushroom (Ganoderma lipsiense), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) and tinder mushroom (Fomes fomentarius).
Should you remove white tree fungus?
You shouldremovewhite mushrooms on the tree trunk so that the fungal spores do not spread further in the garden. By removing the visible fruiting bodies, the affected tree is not cured of the fungal attackBeneath the fruiting bodies, a gigantic network of fungal threads runs through the infected tree. This condition does not mean an immediate death sentence for the tree. These are the options:
- Branches with isolated fruiting bodies: cut back into he althy wood, dispose of cuttings in household waste.
- Fungal infestation on the tree trunk: Remove fruiting bodies, check stability, if in doubt, clear the tree including the rootstock.
Are white mushrooms on tree trunks edible?
Some white and white rot-causing fungi on the tree trunk areedible. These include:
- Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus): gray-brown cap, creamy white lamellae, white flesh, white stem.
- Birch Porling (Piptoporus betulinus): brown cap, white flesh, white spores.
- Thorny Barbed Beard (Hericium cirrhatum): creamy white cap, white flesh, white stem, white spores.
- Sulfur Porling (Laetiporus sulphureus): yellow-orange cap, yellow tubes, white spores.
- Rattlesponge (Grifola frondosa): gray-brown cap, white spores.
Russian mother hen causes brown rot
The Krause Hen is a tasty edible mushroom that grows on tree trunks. Unfortunately, this doesn't end well for the tree because Sparassis crispa causes brown rot.
Tip
Effectively prevent tree fungus infestation
Weakened trees are susceptible to tree fungus infestation. The best prevention against a fungal infection is optimal living conditions and meticulous cleanliness when caring for the cut. If a tree has a balanced supply of water and nutrients in the optimal location, fungal spores have a bad chance. Clean and disinfect the pruning tool before trimming your trees. The most common cause of diseases and pests on trees is contaminated pruning shears.