Inoculation of Mature Pedunculate Oaks (Quercus robur) with the Root Rot Fungus Collybia fusipes: Relationships with Tree Vigour and Soil Factors

Abstract

The severity of natural infections induced by the root rot fungus Collybia fusipes depends on soil factors. Severely infected trees usually show reduced vigour, as evidenced by poor growth. However, it is not known whether reduced vigour could be a cause of the severe infection. The objective was to clarify the relationships between soil factors, tree vigour and susceptibility of Quercus robur to C. fusipes by artificially inoculating mature trees. Two experiments compared oak trees of different ages and dominance class and oak trees growing on different type of soils. The inoculum survival and the infection success were poor in both experiments when waterlogging was severe. Inoculum survival was better in soil with increasing sand/clay ratio, carbon/nitrogen ratio and decreasing pH and calcium, magnesium and phosphorus availability. The relationships between oak vigour and success of infection or surface area of lesions were inconsistent, with a slightly higher infection success on co-dominant/suppressed oaks in one experiment and a higher surface area of successful infection on dominant oaks in the second.