Ecological and economical importance Amylostereum

a pine infested a. areolatum , sirex woodwasp (sirex noctilio)

in native habitat, amylostereum species have minor importance forest pests. infestation through wood wasps not assume greater dimensions , is, compared other pests, insignificant. infection rates lower during sexual reproduction via fruit bodies, wasps not play part in process. furthermore, amylostereum fungi alone incapable of infesting healthy trees. act saprobiontics. pine monocultures in australia, new zealand, africa , south america shown susceptible sirex woodwasp (sirex noctilio), introduced there , associated a. areolatum. wasp s phytotoxic secretion, larvae , fungus combine each other , contribute forest decline rates of 80%. owing poor water , nutrient supply of trees, can poorly reconcile drought stress caused infestation. s. noctilio detected in north america in 2000s (decade); in canada alone, total economic loss forestry industry caused sirex–amylostereum symbiosis high $254 million per year next 20 years.

as countermeasure, cultures of nematode deladenus siricidicola have been used biological control protect trees since 1980s. parasite feeds on mycelia of a. areolatum , therefore food competitor of wood wasp larvae. s. noctilio larvae present, parasite infects , sterilizes eggs of female wasps, causing them infertile. these infertile females lay infected eggs new trees , spread nematode. control method has proven relatively successful combat sirex–amylostereum complex. in southern hemisphere, technique has been employed, reductions of parasitism levels of 70%–100% have been achieved.