I see fungi! Is my tree doomed?

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escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Sep 14, 2006

I have a pecan tree which I mentioned in another thread that has some old fire damage around the trunk. It has made remarkable progress over the last several years healing over it, but today I noticed a spot of fungi growing on it. Should I try to scrape it off? It seems to be mainly growing on the loose bark that the tree is shedding. I sure would hate to lose this tree.

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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) Sep 15, 2006

Chad, what you're seeing probably is just the fruit structure of the fungus. Scraping it off won't matter. But you can ID the fungus from it and determine whether it's just a relatively benign saprophyte living on dead wood or an aggressive parasite killing your tree. I'm guessing and hoping it's the former.

Guy S.

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escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Sep 15, 2006

Here is a picture of it. It is not on the trunk itself, but on the exposed root extending out from the trunk. I panic everytime I see fungi on a tree no matter what kind it is.

This message was edited Sep 15, 2006 1:25 PM

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escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Sep 15, 2006

I forgot to add it.

Thumbnail by escambiaguy
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UUallace Cincinnati, OH Sep 15, 2006

Your picture did not make it. Phytophthora (Root Rot) is no longer a fungus. I have never read of it producing a body. DNA testing caused many plant pathogens and Giant Brown Kelp to be reclassified.

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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) Sep 16, 2006

There might be more than one thing happening there, but they all appear to be on the dead top surface of the root. Several good illustrated books on fungi have come out recently, and you might see if you can find one of them at your library. Look for authors like Chris Luley or Wayne Sinclair.

Guy S.

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escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Sep 16, 2006

All of this new callus tissue is making large plates of old bark shed from the tree. It seems like the fungi is attacking that old bark.

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