Sunday, April 18, 2010

Fungus of the Day: Darwin's Fungus Cyttaria darwinii

Fungus of the Day
Darwin's Fungus

Recap
A story of penicillin 
Who was Ronald Hare? Lab Assistant, temperature & optimal growth
Why were bed pans important?
Who was Mary Hunt? Moldy Produce

Cyclosporin = transplant drug, Norway, secret identity!

Today's Story
Wood Rotting


tree bark = armor

How does rotting start?

Need a wound!
  1. Bacteria move in; change chemistry, no structural damage
  2. Pioneer fungus move in; stain wood, no structural damage
  3. Wood rotting fungus move in; starts eating wood

Picky eaters
Prefers either
  • lignin (brown)
  • cellulose (white)
    • results in brown rot
    • affects mainly conifers
FRUITING BODIES = FALLING FLAG; DON'T GET SUED!

CODIT: barrier against fungi
Things that matter
tree type
  • good
    • lucust
    • cherry
    • cedar
  • poor
    • aspen
    • willow
    • maple
wound size
bigger hole = bigger CODIT = more stress on tree

tree vigor
stress? 
wounded?
  • what to do?
    • wound dressing; controversial, mainly cosmetic
    • fill hole?
      • take care; keep healthy
Rotting affects not only living trees, but dead wood too!
  • e.g. In construction, use of wood in buildings
    • use resistant species; down side = cost $$$
    • use of wood preservatives?
      • (CCA)rsenic
      • poisons leach out and persist in environment
      • copper is highly toxic to marine life
      • article read "Danger on the Dock" 
      • Erin Brockovich

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