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The development of fruiting bodies of fungi on other plants is not at all uncommon. An example is the parasitism of tinder fungus and birch. Having settled on the trunk of a sick or weakened tree, this fungus very quickly destroys the wood. Ultimately, it leads to the fact that the birch completely rots from the inside and dies.
Features of the relationship between birch and tinder fungus
It is not for nothing that the polypore is called a "birch sponge". This is due not only to external similarities. Its fruiting body does indeed have a porous structure, which makes it look like a sponge. In a short time, this mushroom is able to completely destroy wood, turn it into dust, literally "sucking" all the juices from it. It is estimated that for 4 months, during which the development of the fruiting bodies of the fungus occurs, birch can lose up to half of its mass.
Tinder fungus most often appears on sick and weakened trees
The fruit body of a tinder fungus develops on a birch during one season. From the spores caught in the cracks of the birch bark, mycelium begins to develop very quickly, gradually penetrating deep into the wood. A healthy tree successfully resists this, however, in old, sick and weakened birches, the process of destruction proceeds very quickly. The mycelium penetrates into all the 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 a 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 intertwined threads. In shape, a young birch tinder fungus resembles a cushion, at a more mature age - a hoof. The mushroom has no leg. The cap can grow up to 20 cm in diameter, it is sedentary, in a young tinder fungus it is white, gradually darkens with age and becomes yellowish-brown with a light rim, often cracks. The fungus hymenophore is soft, white, tubular. The pulp is easily pounded with your fingers, while it has a pleasant mushroom smell, is non-toxic, and at a young age it can even be eaten. Over time, the tinder fungus becomes tough, and a strong bitterness appears in its taste.
On fallen trees, the tinder fungus continues to develop
The fruiting tinder fungus dies off, but its fruiting body can remain on the tree for several years until the birch completely rotts from the inside and does not fall under its own weight.
What harm do tinder fungi do to trees
The tinder fungus hardly affects healthy birches. In most cases, it develops on dry, already fallen or cut down trees, as well as on diseased, 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, the fruiting bodies of the tinder fungus appear on the bark. After its tubular layer matures, spores will begin to pour out of it, which are carried by rainwater and wind.This, in turn, will infest other birches in the immediate vicinity if they are sick or weak.
Despite the seemingly obvious harm to trees, the tinder fungus cannot be unambiguously ranked among parasitic fungi, to a greater extent it is still a saprotroph. He can be considered as a kind of forest orderly, ridding the planting of dead and diseased wood. Tinder fungus hyphae quickly decompose cellulose into simpler substances, thereby contributing to the rapid processing of wood into an easily digestible organic fertilizer. In addition, birch sponge has medicinal properties and can be of great benefit.
Infusion and decoction of this mushroom is 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:
Reasons for the defeat of birches by tinder fungi
In most cases, the tinder fungus living on a birch behaves like a saprotroph, using already dead organic matter for its development. On living trees, it rarely parasitizes, appearing only on old and diseased birches. There can be several reasons for the appearance of a birch tinder fungus on a living tree:
- The tree is weakened as a result of mechanical damage.
- There are fungal diseases of the bark, moss, lichen.
- Depressed state as a result of root damage, 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
Since the tinder fungus mycelium develops inside the tree, it is very difficult to detect the 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 autumn, in the last stage of the lesion, when all the wood is already infected with mycelium. If during this period you make a cross-cut of a tree, then the affected area will be visible on it in the form of an annular area of 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 trunk of a birch indicates that the process is already irreversible, and decomposition is already taking place 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 rotten. Under such conditions, various insects and their larvae begin to rapidly develop in the wood, and after them birds feeding on them come. Numerous punctures of the bark and hollows made by bird beaks indicate that life is in full swing under the layer of birch bark.
Gradually, the wood of the birch trunk becomes more and more loose. Upon impact, it ceases to emit the ringing characteristic of living trees, the knocking becomes more and more muffled, and the trunk itself begins to miss. In the end, the tree completely loses its properties, literally turning into dust. The trunk of a birch tree can still be in an upright position for some time, being held by a denser birch bark that is not subject to decay, however, it subsequently falls to the ground under the influence of the wind or under its own weight.
The dead birch will soon fall from the wind
How to deal with tinder fungus
If a tree is infected with a birch sponge, then it will no longer be possible to save it. It is better to cut down and burn the diseased birch.To prevent further spread of fungal spores, all fruiting bodies must also be cut and burned. In some cases, tinder fungus may appear not on the trunk of a birch, 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 did not have time to penetrate deep tissues. The branch must be cut off from the trunk and burned together with the fruiting bodies of the tinder fungus.
Wood affected by tinder fungus must be burned
Prevention of the appearance of polypores on trees
Prevention is the best way to control tinder fungus, so it is of great importance. In order to prevent infection, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plantings of birches, get rid of dead wood and fallen trees in time, and carry out sanitary felling. It is necessary to pre-plan for cutting down trees with a high degree of infection risk, remove old and stunted specimens.
A clean birch forest is a guarantee of the absence of tinder fungus
The clearings must be cleared of dead wood and felled branches, all off-grade wood must be disposed of on time.
Conclusion
The parasitism of tinder fungus and birch is just one example of the multifaceted 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 unambiguously considered as a parasite.
