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Effects of a biocontrol agent Chondrostereum purpureum on sprouting of Sorbus aucuparia and Populus tremula after four growing seasons

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Abstract

The efficacy of a decay fungus Chondrostereum purpureum (Pers. ex Fr.) Pouzar to prevent sprouting of two tree species, rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) and European aspen (Populus tremula L.) was investigated in a four-growing season study. The efficacy of C. purpureum compared with the control (cutting only) increased during the whole study period indicating that long-term studies are needed to reveal the real effect of the biocontrol treatment. At the end of the study period the mortality of treated rowan stumps was 50 % and that of European aspen 77 %, i.e. clearly higher than in the control with mortality 14 and 52 % respectively. The height of living sprouts was considerably lower in the C. purpureum treatment than in the control. Furthermore, our results indicated that a high number of surrounding conspecific saplings decreased whereas a high number of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) shoots increased mortality of C. purpureum treated stumps.

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Acknowledgments

Private forest owners in the municipality of Sipoo provided their forests for the study and sites in Lapinjärvi were provided by the Finnish Forest Research Institute. We thank Sauli Valkonen for help to plan sampling design. Henna Vartiamäki, Asko Harju, Olavi Palosaari, Markku Rantala, Erkki Piiroinen, Juhani Mäkinen, Hannu Rantanen, Jere Eronen and Nea Kuusinen are acknowledged for their help in the field. Sari Elomaa modified the figures. The study was partly funded by Verdera Ltd., the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, Metsäteho Ltd., Fingrid Ltd., The Finnish Transport Agency and the Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vantaa Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa, Finland

    Leena Hamberg, Minna Malmivaara-Lämsä, Irja Löfström & Jarkko Hantula

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  1. Leena Hamberg
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  2. Minna Malmivaara-Lämsä
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  3. Irja Löfström
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  4. Jarkko Hantula
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Correspondence to Leena Hamberg.

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Handling Editor: Monica Höfte.

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Hamberg, L., Malmivaara-Lämsä, M., Löfström, I. et al. Effects of a biocontrol agent Chondrostereum purpureum on sprouting of Sorbus aucuparia and Populus tremula after four growing seasons. BioControl 59, 125–137 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-013-9550-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-013-9550-y

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