Abstract
Summary The identification of decay fungi in tree hazard assessments is of little value unless information about the likely mechanical effects of the decay can thereby be gained. To this end, knowledge of the broad category of decay caused by the fungus concerned brown-rot, white-rotor soft-rot, is useful but generally insufficient, since the mechanical effects within each category may vary greatly. High resolution light microscopy, combined with strength tests, can provide useful details of the wood degradation patterns that occur in a given host/fungus combinations. Studies of several such combinations have shown the biomechanical importance of the preferential degradation of particular zones within the woody structure in the earlier stages of decay. In this context, the ability of certain white-rot fungi such as Inonotus hispidus to switch between different modes of degradation, including soft-rot in some cases, is of considerable significance. These new data help to explain previous, anecdotal observations; for example the different effects of decay by I. hispidus on its host species, and the brittle decay caused by Ustulina deusta. Such information can provide objectivity in tree hazard assessments, allowing the residual strength of partially decayed wood to be taken into account.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Decay category alone was generally insufficient to predict mechanical effects.
Verbatim
e0“knowledge of the broad category of decay caused by the fungus concerned brown-rot, white-rotor soft-rot, is useful but generally insufficient, since the mechanical effects within each category may vary greatly”
t0“TREE HAZARD ASSESSMENT”
Claim · model-written summary
Microscopy combined with strength testing can characterize wood degradation patterns in host–fungus combinations.
Not reportedComparatorValue
Verbatim
e0“High resolution light microscopy, combined with strength tests, can provide useful details of the wood degradation patterns that occur in a given host/fungus combinations.”
t0“TREE HAZARD ASSESSMENT”
Claim · model-written summary
Preferential degradation of particular woody zones was biomechanically important early in decay.
Verbatim
e0“Studies of several such combinations have shown the biomechanical importance of the preferential degradation of particular zones within the woody structure in the earlier stages of decay.”
t0“TREE HAZARD ASSESSMENT”
Claim · model-written summary
Inonotus hispidus can switch between degradation modes, including soft rot.
- Taxon
- TREEt0
- Interactor
- Inonotus hispidus
Inonotus hispiduse0pathogent0 - Outcome
- switch between different modes of degradation, including soft-rote0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the ability of certain white-rot fungi such as Inonotus hispidus to switch between different modes of degradation, including soft-rot in some cases”
t0“TREE HAZARD ASSESSMENT”
Claim · model-written summary
The reported decay patterns help explain differing effects of I. hispidus on host species.
- Taxon
- TREEt0
- Interactor
- I. hispidusInonotus hispiduse0pathogent0
- Outcome
- different effects of decay by I. hispidus on its host speciese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“These new data help to explain previous, anecdotal observations; for example the different effects of decay by I. hispidus on its host species”
t0“TREE HAZARD ASSESSMENT”
Claim · model-written summary
Ustulina deusta caused brittle decay.
- Taxon
- TREEt0
- Interactor
- Ustulina deusta
Ustulina deustae0pathogent0 - Outcome
- brittle decaye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the brittle decay caused by Ustulina deusta”
t0“TREE HAZARD ASSESSMENT”