Based on per acre costs, plantation establishment is one of the most expensive silvicultural practices (Pfister 1976), but only token studies have been done on frequency and causes of seedling injury and mortality in Region 1 plantations (Wenner 1976). Therefore, we conducted a survey in 1978 on four National Forests...
Causes of mortality of containerized western larch seedlings at the Champion Timberlands Nursery, Plains, Montana, were investigated. Seedlings were rated for disease severity based on extent of foliar decline symptoms and fungal isolations made from their roots. Isolations were also made from selected larch seed. Consistent associations between root colonization...
Fungi associated with cankers of Russian-olive seedlings at the Montana State Nursery, Missoula, were investigated. Phomopsis elaeagni was most often isolated from and fruiting on cankers. Other associated fungi were Phoma herbarum, P. eupyrena, P. chrysanthemicola, P. exigua, Alternaria alternate, Epicoccum nigrum, and Fusarium moniliforme. Because of its common occurrence...
We conducted a combination road/plot impact survey for dwarf mistletoe in lodgepole pine on six East Side National Forests in 1978. The road survey showed infestation percentages ranging from 28.2 on the Custer to 52.4 on the Beaverhead. The plot survey showed annual cubic foot volume losses ranging from 106M...
A pilot survey was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of using multistage sampling techniques to measure annual and cumulative mortality on a State-wide basis with acceptable statistical reliability, timeliness, and cost. Within the State of Montana, aerial surveys showed about 986,000 acres of lodgepole pine infested with mountain pine beetle....
Investigations of containerized conifer seedling root diseases at the Champion Timberlands Nursery revealed that Fusarium oxysporum was most commonly isolated from seed, seedling roots, and styroblock containers. Amount of seed infection varied widely among the seedlots tested, but was usually below 5 percent. Runningwater rinses did not reduce amounts of...
Treating styroblock containers in hot water (68°C) with a very dilute bleach and detergent solution effectively reduced populations of Fusarium and Cylindrocarpon spp., two potential root pathogens of containerized conifer seedlings. However, the treatment did not significantly reduce levels of Phoma (another potential pathogen) nor saprophytic Penicillium and Alternaria spp....
An evaluation of the efficacy of steam treatment on reducing levels of Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon, and
Trichoderma within styroblock containers was conducted at the Plum Creek Nursery in Pablo, Montana. Although levels, of both Fusarium and Cylindrocarpon were significantly reduced by cleaning, relatively high populations of both these fungi persisted after...