Canadian Forest Service Publications
Chondrostereum purpureum: An alternative to chemical herbicide brush control. 2002. De La Bastide, P.Y.; Zhu, H.; Shrimpton, G.; Shamoun, S.F.; Hintz, W.E. Pages 665-672 in J.W. Goodrich-Mahoney, D.F. Mutrie, and C.A. Guild, editors. Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management: Seventh International Symposium. Elsevier Science, New York, NY. 972 p.
Year: 2002
Issued by: Pacific Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 20960
Language: English
Availability: Not available through the CFS (click for more information).
Abstract
Fast-growing hardwood species pose a hazard to power lines, hence hydroelectric companies must ensure that rights-of-way are kept clear of trees in order to maintain uninterrupted power service. Many of these species propagate by resprouting from cut stumps. The application of chemical herbicides to the cut stumps has proven to be effective in suppressing reprouting, however, herbicide use is increasingly encountering public opposition. Where herbicide use is prohibited, the lack of stump treatment quickly leads to extremely high stem densities. The fungus Chondrostereum purpureum provides an attractive alternative to chemical herbicide use in industrial vegetation management. Living cultures of C. purpureum are placed on cut stumps in a formulation that will protect the fungus from desiccation and UV irradiation, as well as provide nutrients fro establishment. The fungus invades the lower stem and prevents resprouting by killing adventitious shoots or branches. We have been working towards the development of new application technologies to better integrate this biocontrol into operational trials. We have optimized a two-phase fermentation process that is capable of producing viable mycelial biomass with a minimum titer of 1 x 107 cfu kg -1 of solid substrate (active ingredient). A newly formulated C. purpureum has been field tested in the Nanaimo Lakes region of Vancouver Island.