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The development of fungal fruiting bodies on other plants is by no means uncommon. An example is the parasitism of tinder fungus and birch. Settling on the trunk of a diseased 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 tinder fungus is called the “birch sponge”. This is due not only to external similarity. Its fruiting body really has a porous structure, which makes it look like a sponge. In a short time, this fungus is able to completely destroy wood, turn it into dust, literally “sucking” all the juices out of it. It is estimated that for 4 months, during which the development of the fruiting bodies of the fungus occurs, the birch can lose up to half of its mass.
Tinder fungus most often appears on diseased and weakened trees.
The fruit body of the tinder fungus develops on a birch during one season. From the spores that have fallen into the cracks of the birch bark, the mycelium begins to develop very quickly, gradually penetrating deep into the wood. A healthy tree successfully resists this, however, in old, diseased and weakened birches, the destruction process goes very quickly. Mycelium penetrates into all tissues of the tree, slowly decomposing them, and brown rot develops in its place. Gradually, the wood is completely destroyed, and the fruit bodies of the birch sponge begin to ripen on the tree trunk.
The fungus itself is a horseshoe-shaped growth on a tree trunk. It gradually forms from hyphae – thin, tightly woven threads. In shape, a young birch tinder fungus resembles a pillow, at a more mature age – a hoof. The fungus has no stem. The hat can grow up to 20 cm in diameter, it is sessile, white in a young tinder fungus, gradually darkens with age and becomes yellowish-brown with a light rim, often cracking. Hymenophore of the fungus is soft, white, tubular. The pulp is easily crushed by 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 hard, and strong bitterness appears in its taste.
On fallen trees, the tinder fungus continues to develop
The fruiting tinder fungus dies, but its fruiting body can remain on the tree for several years until the birch completely rots from the inside and falls under its own weight.
What damage do tinder fungi do to trees?
The tinder fungus almost does not affect healthy birches. In most cases, it develops on dead wood, already fallen or cut down trees, as well as on diseased, damaged or weakened specimens. The 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 fruit bodies of the tinder fungus appear on the bark. After its tubular layer has matured, spores will begin to spill out of it, which are carried by rainwater and wind. This in turn will infect other birches growing in the immediate vicinity if they are sick or weak.
Despite the obvious, it would seem, harm to trees, the tinder fungus cannot be unambiguously classified as parasitic fungi; to a greater extent, it is still a saprotroph. It can be considered as a kind of forest orderly, relieving plantings of dead and diseased wood. Tinder hyphae quickly decompose cellulose into simpler substances, thereby contributing to the rapid processing of wood into an easily digestible organic fertilizer. In addition, the birch sponge has medicinal properties and can bring considerable benefits.
Infusion and decoction of this fungus 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:
Causes of damage to birches by tinder fungi
In most cases, a tinder fungus living on a birch behaves like a saprotroph, using already dead organic matter for its development. On living trees, it parasitizes quite rarely, appearing only on old and diseased birch trees. 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 damage to the roots, 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 damage
Since the mycelium of the tinder fungus develops inside the tree, it is very difficult to detect 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 a cross cut of a tree is made, then the affected area will be visible on it in the form of an annular area of a reddish color, turning into red-brown or brown.
Ring rot – a sign of infection
The appearance of tinder fruit bodies on a birch trunk indicates that the process is already irreversible, and decomposition is already underway inside the tree. The liquid released by the hyphae of the birch sponge destroys the cellulose that makes up the wood, turning it into simpler nutrients that the tinder fungus can absorb. As it grows, the birch trunk loses its strength, becoming more and more rotten. Under such conditions, various insects and their larvae begin to develop rapidly in the wood, and birds that feed on them come after them. Numerous punctures in 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 make the ringing characteristic of living trees, the knock becomes more and more muffled, and the trunk itself begins to slip. In the end, the tree completely loses its properties, literally turning into dust. The trunk of a birch can be in a vertical 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 fungi
If a tree is infected with a birch sponge, then it will not be possible to save it. It is better to cut down and burn the diseased birch. To prevent further spread of fungus spores, all fruiting bodies must also be cut and burned. In some cases, tinder fungi may not appear on the birch trunk, 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 along with the fruit bodies of the tinder fungus.
Wood affected by tinder must be burned
Prevention of the appearance of tinder fungi on trees
Prevention is the best way to deal with tinder fungi, so it is of great importance. In order to prevent infection, it is necessary to regularly inspect birch plantings, get rid of dead wood and fallen trees in time, and carry out sanitary felling. Trees with a high risk of infection should be planned in advance for felling, and old and stunted specimens should be removed.
Pure birch is a guarantee of the absence of trutovika
Clearings must be cleared of deadwood and cut branches, all off-grade wood must be disposed of in time.
Conclusion
The parasitism of the tinder fungus and birch is just one example of the versatility of the coexistence of lower and higher organisms. Moreover, this union cannot be called equal. The tinder fungus in this pair is a typical invader, parasite for the plant, but its activity cannot be unambiguously considered as parasitism.