Serpula himantioides, Heterobasidion annosum and Calocera viscosa as butt rot fungi in a Danish Douglas-fir stand

A scattered wind fall of 50 trees in a 46-year-old stand of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii ) revealed Serpula himantioides, Heterobasidion annosum and Calocera viscosa as decay causing fungi. Sixty-four percent of the stumps had visible rot on the stump surface. Mainly, a central brown rot was seen, caused by either S. himantioides or C. viscosa combined with eccentrically placed spots of incipient H. annosum rot. Subsequently, the appearance of fruitbodies disclosed that in total 76% of the wind thrown trees were associated with one or more of the three decay fungi. S. himantioides was present in a surprisingly large number of trees (54%), and the rot column extended up to 2 m into the stem. This investigation represents the first known incidence of S. himantioides and C. viscosa causing root and butt rot in living conifers in Denmark.