Wood luminescence as marker of tree Armillaria infection

Diagnostics of infectious diseases of trees is based on anatomical and morphological characteristics of the tree damage and determining the participants of this process. In the study of tree diseases caused by fungal pathogens their presence and description of morphological characteristics is necessary. Thus, the studies of the causes of the trees diseases are only possible fora limited amount of time, the determined period of the formation of fruiting bodies of fungi. Keep in mind that not every year the natural conditions are favorable for the basidia formation. The diagnostics of pathogen is complicated in the absence of fruiting bodies. In this case, it is required to carry out additional measures on the cultivation of fruit bodies or obtaining a pure culture of the fungal mycelium to determine the cause of the disease. According to the literature, the genus Armillaria fungi are the most common wood destroyers in all forest areas. In addition, they are found in the botanical gardens, parks, urban areas and on private garden plots. Unlike other fungi that destroy wood trees the mycelium complex Armillaria mellea sensu lato has bioluminescence. This feature allows you to identify them among other basidiomycetes growing in Russia. In this article, based on the experimental results is discussed a method for determining the infestation of trees by root pathogens complex Armillaria mellea s. L. by recording luminescence wood samples. It has been shown that the registration of bioluminescent signal of wood samples can be performed at any time of the year, not just during the growing season. It is supposed the possibility of identifying trees that are infected by mycelium of pathogenic fungi genus Armillaria in the absence of fruiting bodies. It may allow probably early detection of infected trees.