Red Root and Butt Rot caused by Inonotus circinatus
From Bugwoodwiki
Anonymous. 1989. Insects and Diseases of Trees in the South. USDA Forest Service. Protrotection Report R8-PR16. 98 pp.
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Importance
Inonotus circinatus causes a root and butt rot of slash, sand, and shortleaf pines in the South. It is the fungus most often associated with diseased sand pines over 20 years old.
Indentifying the Fungus
The fungus produces fruiting bodies in the fall and winter on the bases of affected trees and winter on the bases of affected trees and from infected subsurface roots. Fruiting bodies are firm-textured and yellowish-brown, and can be bracket-shaped or have a well-defined stem. The lower surface of the fruiting body is composed of many pores.
Biology
Red root and butt rot is a slow-acting disease, primarily of loder pine stands. Trees may be infected by airborne stands. Trees may be infected by airborne spores that are deposited on basal wounds. Fusiform rust galls on slash pine seem particularly susceptible to infections. Once established in a tree's root system, the fungus can spread to healthy trees via roots can persist in the soil for a number of years.
Control
Direct controls for this disease are not available. Management techniques to minimize its impact are: sanitizing or completely salvaging affected portions of stands, including trees with basal rust galls; avoiding wounding trees during stand entries; lowering rotation age; and harvesting overmature stands.
