Tree fungus is a very common disease for trees. Fungi are a group of living organisms, and they are classified in their own separate kingdom. So, they are not bacteria, plants or animals. Essentially, they are their own separate "group".
Funguses are eukaryotic, which means they have a nucleus. This makes them different from bacteria, which have prokaryotic cells (has no nucleus).
What does fungi do to trees?
While not all mushrooms are harmful to trees, there are many different types of mushrooms that can harm trees. Some types of mushrooms can cause heart decay. Heart decay is when healthy trees rot from the center of the tree.
There are different types of rotting that can happen inside a tree. White rot, which causes the wood to feel soft, stringy, and moist, is one of the kinds of rotting. The organisms break down lignin and cellulose, which causes these things to happen to the tree.
Another kind of rot is called brown rot. Fungi feeds on cellulose and hemicellulose, which leaves a brown colored lignin. Dry wood is the usual victim of brown rot, and the consequences are crumbled cubes and cracks in the wood.
What causes tree fungi?
Fungi marks itself on trees because of weakened ares on the tree, or wound areas. These wound areas are caused by bad pruning, strikes of lightning, fires, and other natural destructions. The fungi will then reproduce through conks, holes and splits in the tree.
Citations
“Understanding The Damaging Effects Of Tree Fungus - Cincinnati Tree Care.” Tree Images | Cincinnati Ohio Tree Services, 12 July 2020, treeimagescincy.com/blog/fungus-trees-locate-signs-damage-can-cause/.
Design and Code by Austin Tree Surgeons. “Conks And Mushrooms On Trees.” Austin Tree Surgeons, 29 June 2020, austintreesurgeons.com/what-causes-conks-and-mushrooms-on-trees/#:~:text=These%20fungi%20enter%20the%20tree,bark%2C%20or%20old%20branch%20stubs.
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