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Fungus Takes Down 100 Year-Old Kentucky Oak03-12-07 | News

Fungus Takes Down 100 Year-Old Kentucky Oak




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Ganoderma lucidum decayed the root system, dangerously weakening a century-old oak on Kentucky?EUR??,,????'???s campus. The fungus preys on trees that are already injured, commonly from lawn mowers.
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Kentucky ?EUR??,,????'??? On the University of Kentucky campus, a massive century-old pin oak located in front of the Main Building, had to be removed recently. Due to the decline in health of the tree’s buttress roots with the fungus ganoderma lucidum, it was determined that the tree posed a potential threat to campus safety.

The fungus “decays root systems and weakens the tree so that it poses a high risk of topping over during storms,” said John Hartman, a UK plant pathologist.

The fungus preys on trees that are already injured. One common form of injury is caused by lawn mowers, Hartman said.

The pin oak had also sustained considerable damage during a 2003 ice storm and by a lightning strike sometime in the spring or early summer of 2004.

Hartman inspected the tree in May 2002, when he diagnosed the tree with the fungus.

At that time, the tree appeared to be “in good condition for its size and age, and the main trunk appeared sound,” Hartman said.

The tree did, however, have fungus fruiting on the roots on the west side and in the root plate.

“Most fungus is inside the tree, fruiting structures only produce spores to go to other trees,” Hartman said.

Four younger oaks that are growing elsewhere on campus will be preserved and re-planted to replace the old oak.

Source: media.www.kykernel.com

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