INOCULATION OF LODGEPOLE PINE WITH 4 BLUE-STAIN FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH MOUNTAIN PINE-BEETLE, MONITORED BY A HEAT PULSE VELOCITY (HPV) INSTRUMENT

Healthy 80-yr-old lodgepole pine Pinus contorta var. latifolia were inoculated with 4 blue-stain fungi that are associated with Dendroctonus ponderosae and beetle-attached trees. Inocula of Ophiostoma clavigerum, O. huntii, O. montium and O. minus were prepared. In sections inoculated with O. clavigerum, HPVs were significantly reduced 10-13 days after inoculation. Sapwood under the inoculated area was visibly altered and colonized by the fungus. The other 3 fungi did not significantly reduce HPVs. Results proved the capability of O. clavigerum to colonize functional sapwood and stop sap flow within a short period of time and reconfirmed the importance of this fungus in the mortality of trees attacked by mountain pine beetle. -from Authors