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The development of fungal fruiting bodies on other plants is not at all uncommon. An example is parasitism of tinder fungus and birch. Settling on the trunk of a diseased or weakened tree, this fungus very quickly destroys the wood. Ultimately, this leads to the birch tree completely rotting from the inside and dying.
Features of the relationship between birch and tinder fungus
It’s not for nothing that the tinder fungus is called the “birch sponge.” This is due not only to external similarity. Its fruiting body actually has a porous structure, which makes it look like a sponge. In a short time, this fungus is capable of completely destroying wood, turning it into dust, literally “sucking” all the juices out of it. It is estimated that in 4 months, during which the fruiting bodies of the fungus develop, birch can lose up to half of its mass.
Polypore most often appears on sick and weakened trees
The fruiting body of the tinder fungus develops on a birch tree during one season. From spores caught in cracks in the birch bark, mycelium begins to develop very quickly, gradually penetrating deep into the wood. A healthy tree successfully resists this, but in old, sick and weakened birches the process of destruction proceeds very quickly. The mycelium penetrates all tissues of the tree, slowly decomposing them, and brown rot develops in its place. Gradually, the wood is completely destroyed, and the fruiting bodies of the birch sponge begin to ripen on the tree trunk.
The mushroom itself is a horseshoe-shaped growth on a tree trunk. It is gradually formed from hyphae - thin, tightly woven threads. The shape of a young birch tinder fungus resembles a pad, while at a more mature age it resembles a hoof. The mushroom has no stem. The cap can grow up to 20 cm in diameter, it is sessile, in a young tinder fungus it is white, gradually darkens with age and becomes yellowish-brown with a light rim, and often cracks. The mushroom hymenophore is soft, white, tubular. The pulp is easily crushed with your fingers, and it has a pleasant mushroom smell, is non-toxic, and can even be eaten at a young age. Over time, the tinder fungus becomes tough, and its taste develops a strong bitterness.
The tinder fungus continues to develop on fallen trees
The fruiting polypore dies, but its fruiting body can remain on the tree for several years until the birch tree completely rots from the inside and falls under its own weight.
What damage do tinder fungi cause to trees?
The tinder fungus almost does not affect healthy birch trees.In most cases, it develops on dead wood, already fallen or cut down trees, as well as on sick, damaged or weakened specimens. Wood affected by tinder fungus loses its density, brown rot develops in it, which progresses rapidly. In a short time, the tree completely loses its mechanical properties, becomes rotten and unsuitable for any business use.
By autumn, tinder fruiting bodies appear on the bark. After its tubular layer matures, spores begin to pour out of it, which are carried by rainwater and wind. This in turn will lead to infection of other birch trees growing in the immediate area if they are sick or weak.
Despite the seemingly obvious harm to trees, the tinder fungus cannot be unambiguously classified as a parasitic fungus; to a greater extent, it is still a saprotroph. He can be considered as a kind of forest orderly, ridding plantings of dead and diseased wood. The hyphae of the tinder fungus quickly decompose cellulose into simpler substances, thereby facilitating the rapid processing of wood into easily digestible organic fertilizer. In addition, birch sponge has medicinal properties and can bring considerable benefits.
Infusion and decoction of this mushroom are used in folk medicine to treat various diseases, such as:
- Sinusitis.
- Gastrointestinal diseases.
- Food poisoning.
A short video about the beneficial qualities of this mushroom:
Causes of damage to birch trees by tinder fungi
In most cases, the tinder fungus living on birch behaves like a saprotroph, using already dead organic matter for its development.It parasitizes living trees quite rarely, appearing only on old and diseased birch trees. There may be several reasons for the appearance of birch polypore on a living tree:
- The tree is weakened as a result of mechanical damage.
- There are fungal diseases of the bark, moss, and lichen.
- Depressed state as a result of damage to roots, flooding.
- The tree is weakened by drought or other natural factors.
Dead wood is an excellent breeding ground for the development of tinder fungus
Signs of tinder fungus damage
Since the mycelium of the tinder fungus develops inside the tree, it is very difficult to detect primary signs of infection on a living birch. The fruiting bodies of tinder fungi growing on trees are found on the trunk or branches only in the fall, in the last stage of infection, when all the wood is already infected with mycelium. If you make a transverse cut of a tree during this period, the affected area will be visible on it in the form of a ring-shaped area of a reddish color, turning into red-brown or brown.
Ring rot is a sign of infection
The appearance of the fruiting bodies of the tinder fungus on the birch trunk indicates that the process is already irreversible, and decomposition is already underway inside the tree. The liquid secreted by the hyphae of the birch sponge destroys the cellulose that makes up the wood, turning it into simpler nutrients that can be absorbed by the tinder fungus. As it grows, the birch trunk loses strength, becoming more and more rotten.Under such conditions, various insects and their larvae begin to rapidly develop in the wood, and after them come the birds that feed on them. Numerous punctures in the bark and hollows made by bird beaks indicate that life is in full swing under the birch bark layer.
Gradually, the wood of the birch trunk becomes more and more loose. When struck, it stops making the ringing sound characteristic of living trees, the knocking becomes more and more muffled, and the trunk itself begins to collapse. In the end, the tree completely loses its properties, literally turning into dust. The birch trunk can remain in an upright position for some time, supported by birch bark that is denser and not subject to rotting, but it subsequently falls to the ground under the influence of the wind or under its own weight.
The dead birch tree will soon fall from the wind
How to deal with tinder fungi
If a tree is infected with birch sponge, then it will no longer be possible to save it. It is better to cut down and burn a diseased birch tree. To prevent further spread of fungal spores, all fruiting bodies must also be cut off and burned. In some cases, tinder fungi may appear not on the birch trunk, but on one of the large side branches, especially if it has been broken or damaged. In this case, there is a chance that the tree can be saved if the mycelium has not had time to penetrate into the deep tissues. The branch must be cut off from the trunk and burned along with the fruiting bodies of the tinder fungus.
Wood affected by tinder fungus must be burned
Preventing the appearance of tinder fungus on trees
Prevention is the best way to combat polypores, so it is of great importance. To prevent infection, it is necessary to regularly inspect birch tree plantings, promptly get rid of dead wood and fallen trees, and carry out sanitary felling. It is necessary to plan in advance for cutting down trees with a high risk of infection, and remove old and stunted specimens.
A clean birch forest is a guarantee of the absence of tinder fungus
Clearings must be cleared of dead wood and cut branches, and all non-grade wood must be disposed of in a timely manner.
Conclusion
Parasitism of tinder fungus and birch is just one example of the versatility of the coexistence of lower and higher organisms. Moreover, this union cannot be called equal. The polypore in this pair is a typical invader, a parasite, for the plant, but its activity cannot be clearly considered as parasitism.
