• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2009

Cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa) is recently recognized as a new edible and/or medicinal mushroom cultivated with conifers. By the way, the mushroom is notorious as a brown-rot fungus that causes a buttrot of larch. So, there should be a careful consideration to apply the mushroom cultivation in coniferous stand. This study was conducted to clarify the seriousness of heartwood decay on conifers such as larch by cauliflower mushroom with surveying the mushroom producing environment and to examine whether the cultivation of cauliflower mushroom produce any problem in conifer stands or not. The mushroom occurred in various coniferous stands such as Larix kaempferi, Pinus koraiensis, P. densiflora and Abies holophylla on fertile soils with adequate moisture. Soil texture of the mushroom producing site was comparatively fine compared to general forest soils; sandy loam, loam and silty loam. Soil pH ranged from 4.6 to 5.2, and organic matter contents were 4~11%, which showed relatively wide range. We could find S. crispa by a DNA technique from the wood that seemed to have no heartwood decay by naked eyes. The damaged wood showed 30% higher moisture contents than that of sound wood, while the compressive strength was 30% lowered down compared to that of sound wood. The fungus may invade conifers through the scars occurred on roots or stems, in this case spore dispersion of the mushroom takes a great role. Thus, we concluded that forest tending activities need to be applied with considering the invasion of S. crispa, and cultivation of cauliflower mushroom in forest should be attempted very carefully. By the way, we also infer that conifer stands can be nurtured without heartwood decay by S. crispa if the stand be managed in good aeration conditions by proper silvicultural practices such as sanitary thinning.