Influence of certain silvicultural variables in the Phellinus pini white-rot on Pinus pinea

Abstract

Phellinus pini (Brot.: Fr.) Ames is the most frequent wood decay fungus in Stone Pine forests (Pinus pinea) in Valladolid province (Central-North Spain). Great volumes of wood are affected by this white-pocket rot fungus, depreciating its values. Massive attacks are achieved from 80 yeard-old stands, although the disease can be found even in 30 year-old trees. The aim of this paper it to identify those silvicultural patterns affecting most the decay within the stand. Data has been collected 655 trees in 131 plots (five per plot). The rot level in the plot has been evaluated with an index (IP), aggregating the different individual level of attack of the five trees. Age, dominant height and basal area showed strong influence on the development of the attack, also closely related with site index. Based on discriminant analysis tecniques, a predictive model to determine the level of the attack is developed.