Abstract
Abstract Key message This is the first study to investigate the success of inoculation of Alnus incana and A. glutinosa with Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát, providing new insights about the potential cultivation of this valuable fungus under field conditions. Results show that conks developed slowly under natural conditions. The development of the fungus observed in A. glutinosa suggests that this species may be as suitable a host for I. obliquus than birches. Furthermore, visible stem symptoms proved unreliable for detecting infection, highlighting the importance of molecular diagnostics for accurate assessment. Context Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát (commonly known as Chaga) is a medicinal fungus traditionally harvested from birch trees. Artificial cultivation is increasingly considered due to a rising commercial demand. However, our knowledge remains limited regarding infection dynamics and conk development on different host species. Aims We assessed the success of I. obliquus inoculation in Betula pendula , B. pubescens , Alnus incana , and A. glutinosa stands 2 years after inoculation in order to: (i) identify the most susceptible host tree species and the most effective I. obliquus strains for cultivation; (ii) assess the frequency of conk formation under hemiboreal conditions; investigate whether (iii) visible symptoms on stems resulted from I. obliquus infection and (iv) mechanical wounding influenced fungal establishment. Methods The experiment was conducted at two locations in Estonia, encompassing a total of six forest sites, with inoculation success assessed using species-specific qPCR. Sterile conk development was additionally monitored visually 4 years post-inoculation. Results Inoculation success differed between the two locations, with an infection rate of 18% observed at Järvselja and 3% at Võrumaa . Three fungal strains consistently achieved higher infection rates among the six tested ones. Conks developed only on A. glutinosa trees and with specific strains. Only the identity of the fungal strains resulted in a significant effect on infection ess. Visible stem symptoms, such as bleeding and bulging, were unreliable indicators of the infection rate. Conclusion I. obliquus conks developed more rapidly on A. glutinosa compared to B. pendula , B. pubescens , and A. incana . Moreover, fungal strains play a crucial role in determining cultivation success.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Infection rate was 18% at Järvselja.
- Taxon
- bircht0
- Interactor
- Inonotus obliquus
Inonotus obliquust0pathogen - Outcome
- infection ratee0
- Value
- 18%e0
- Setting
- Järvseljae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“an infection rate of 18% observed at Järvselja”
t0“Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát in birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) and alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench, A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Infection rate was 3% at Võrumaa.
- Taxon
- bircht0
- Interactor
- Inonotus obliquusInonotus obliquust0pathogen
- Outcome
- infection ratee1
- Value
- 3%e0
- Setting
- Võrumaae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“3% at Võrumaa”
t0“Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát in birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) and alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench, A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.)”
e1“an infection rate of 18% observed at Järvselja”
Claim · model-written summary
Three fungal strains had higher infection rates among six strains.
- Taxon
- bircht0
- Interactor
- Inonotus obliquusInonotus obliquust0pathogen
- Outcome
- infection ratese0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- six tested onese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Three fungal strains consistently achieved higher infection rates among the six tested ones.”
t0“Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát in birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) and alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench, A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Conks developed only on A. glutinosa with specific strains.
- Taxon
- A. glutinosa
.jpg?width=60)
Alnus glutinosae0 - Interactor
- Inonotus obliquusInonotus obliquust0pathogen
- Outcome
- Conks developed onlye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Conks developed only on A. glutinosa trees and with specific strains.”
t0“Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát in birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) and alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench, A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Fungal strain identity significantly affected infection success.
- Taxon
- bircht0
- Interactor
- Inonotus obliquusInonotus obliquust0pathogen
- Outcome
- infection esse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Only the identity of the fungal strains resulted in a significant effect on infection ess.”
t0“Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát in birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) and alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench, A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Visible stem symptoms were unreliable infection indicators.
- Taxon
- bircht0
- Interactor
- Inonotus obliquusInonotus obliquust0pathogen
- Outcome
- unreliable indicators of the infection ratee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Visible stem symptoms, such as bleeding and bulging, were unreliable indicators of the infection rate.”
t0“Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát in birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) and alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench, A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Conks developed more rapidly on A. glutinosa than on the other tested trees.
- Taxon
- A. glutinosaAlnus glutinosae0
- Interactor
- I. obliquusInonotus obliquuse0pathogen
- Outcome
- conks developede0
- Direction
- more rapidlye0
- Comparator
- B. pendula , B. pubescens , and A. incanae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“I. obliquus conks developed more rapidly on A. glutinosa compared to B. pendula , B. pubescens , and A. incana .”
t0“Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát in birch (Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh.) and alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench, A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.)”