How many species of Armillaria are there?

How many species of Armillaria are there?

Armillaria, genus of about 35 species of parasitic fungi in the family Physalacriaceae (order Agaricales), found throughout northern North America and Europe, principally in forests of hardwoods or mixed conifers.

Is Armillaria parasitic?

Armillaria as a generalist pathogen and saprobe The majority of Armillaria species are considered to be facultative nectrotrophs; they have a parasitic phase and a saprophytic phase (Rishbeth, 1985). First, Armillaria colonizes the cambium of living roots (parasitic phase).

How is Armillaria spread?

New infections occur when healthy roots grow close to diseased roots. Black shoestring-like strands of fungal growth, called rhizomorphs, can spread up to 10 feet from an infected tree or stump to infect healthy roots. Once inside, the fungus colonizes the roots and the base of the trunk. This causes the wood to decay.

Can you eat Armillaria?

The mushrooms are edible but some people may be intolerant to them. This species is capable of producing light via bioluminescence in its mycelium. Armillaria mellea is widely distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Are all Armillaria edible?

Although all Armillaria species were for many years generally considered edible when thoroughly cooked, members of the honey fungus group (including Armillaria mellea, the type species of this genus) that occur on hardwoods are considered by some to be suspect, as cases of poisoning have been linked to eating these …

Can you eat Physalacriaceae?

Among the family Physalacriaceae, Flammulina velutipes is a valuable edible mushroom, while the genus Armillaria contains species that are severe forest pathogens [5,6]. The family was originally defined in 1970 [7] and revised in 1985 [8].

How do I get rid of Armillaria?

Cut out and burn diseased bark and roots, and paint cuts with a plastic paint. Leave the crown and roots permanently uncovered and do not replace soil during cultivation. This will halt the development of the disease, as exposure to air kills Armillaria. Remove and burn all badly affected trees, including roots.

How do I get rid of Armillaria Mellea?

Sadly, there is no absolute treatment for Armillaria root rot. The disease can be managed by the consistent removal of dead trees and infected stumps. Armillaria requires consistent moisture to survive, and in citrus groves, excavation around the root crown has been an effective deterrent but not an ultimate cure.

How can you tell an Armillaria species?

The genus Armillaria contains wood-rotting gilled mushrooms with white spore prints and gills that are attached to the stem or run down it. Most of the species have a partial veil, but the veil can manifest in several different forms—from cob-webby ring zones to full-blown rings.

Is Armillaria edible?

It is a plant pathogen and part of a cryptic species complex of closely related and morphologically similar species. It causes Armillaria root rot in many plant species and produces mushrooms around the base of trees it has infected. The mushrooms are edible but some people may be intolerant to them.

Is Armillaria mellea edible?