Armillaria species: Primary drivers of forest ecosystem processes and potential impacts of climate change

Abstract

Species of the fungal genus Armillaria are pervasive in forest soils and are associated with widely ranging tree species of diverse forests worldwide (Baumgartner et al., 2011). As primary decay drivers of ecosystem processes, Armillaria species exhibit diverse ecological behaviors, ranging from virulent root and/or butt pathogens of diverse woody hosts, such as timber, fruit, nut, and ornamental trees, beneficial saprophytes, or mycorrhizal associates of orchids (Baumgartner et al., 2011). Furthermore, genets of Armillaria spp. are recognized as being among the oldest and longest lived organisms on earth, where a single genet (genetically identical individual) has been estimated to occupy up to 965 ha and be of 1,900 - 8,650 years of age (Ferguson et al., 2003).

Citation

Klopfenstein, Ned B.; Kim, Mee-Sook; Hanna, John W.; Ross-Davis, Amy L.; Ashiglar, Sara M.; McDonald, Geral I. 2012. Armillaria species: Primary drivers of forest ecosystem processes and potential impacts of climate change. In: Proceedings, 2012 International conference on etiology, ecology and integrated management of forest and fruit tree diseases; 24-25 May 2012; Taipei, Taiwan. National Taiwan University, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology. p. 53-76.