Question
Goodland Apple Tree
Two years ago in Manitoba we had a quick freeze and my Goodland Apple tree split in the main trunk. The following year one of the main trunks died and this spring I cut the dead trunk off. This past week I noticed that there was a growth developing under the area which I had cut off and appears to be similar to a fungus. We have had a very wet spring and summer and growth is on the northwest side of the tree. I would like to ID this growth so that I can treat/remove the growth before it impacts on the rest of the tree which appears to be healthy, has lots of apples. I have attached a photo and hope that you can ID what this growth is and how to treat it. Thanks
AnswerI am not sure which decay fungi this is but it is the fruiting body of a fungi that is growing in the woody cells of the dead fork of the tree. It really will not effect the overall health of the remaining fork except it could over many years cause the green fork to become hollow. These fungi a re slow growing and only effect the dead woody cells. The living cells of a tree are just under the bark and are not effected by these decay fungi.
My guess would be one of the Crust and Parchment decay fungi. Species in this grouping are either 1) sheetlike, crustlike, and spreading over the substrate or 2) projecting away from the substrate as tough, leathery, parchment-like caps or 3) some combination of crustlike and projecting portions. The fertile surface may be smooth, rough, or bumpy but never forms pores, gills, or teeth. Fuligo septica may be found as a gooey spreading mass at first before becoming dry and powdery.
But it does not really matter. A hollow tree is not really that bad. the tree can lose some strength but the health of the tree is not effected. There is not a fungicide that will control the decay fungi or the fruiting conks. Removal of the spore-bearing structures (called conks or brackets) from the bark surface does nothing to control wood decay -- the threadlike hyphae of decay fungi are present in the wood beyond the immediate area of the conk. Maintaining tree vigor through proper pruning, irrigation and fertilizing practices will help to reduce potential decay problems by promoting the trees natural wound response processes.
I would fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. If you put the fertilizer out just before a rain storm you will not have to water it in.
Signs that the tree is getting into trouble with strength is large limbs breaking and the end of the limb near the trunk is hollow. This would mean the decay has grown into the upper parts of the tree.
