apple tree fungus alert!!!

[ioan]

Hi
Purchased this apple yesterday, took it out the pot today to plant up and
noticed this fungus, it goes all the way round the root ball, the roots look to be ok
and as you can see from the photo, the tree itself looks ok.
Anyone have an idea what it is, l thought maybe myciliniam, but honestly don't
know.
kind reg
ioan

[fishpond]

I have no idea.
Have you tried talking to whoever you purchased the tree from?

[ioan]

I have no idea.
Have you tried talking to whoever you purchased the tree from?

Hi
Yes l gave them a ring, about on a par with you.
kind reg
ioan

[chrisdb]

It might not be a bad thing. Most plants form symbiotic relationships with fungi:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=633

I add mycorrhizal fungi when planting shrubs and trees, but I have no idea what it looks like once it grows! Anyone have some good pictures of symbiotic fungi on plant roots?

[FB.]

It looks like a type of fungus which I regularly come across, around the roots of plants in dry-ish soil.

The fungus is crumbly white when dry and has a strong metallic smell.
It also forms matted sandy-coloured clumps reminiscent of the texture of a washing up pan scourer and which are waterproof!
It has always caused terrible fairy-ring-like dead patches on my lawn due to the waterproof growth starving the grass (or other plant) roots of water. I don't think it affects deep-rooted plants.

Several months after the fungus has grown in an area (and killed all shallow-rooted plants, including drought-resistant ones), it's as if the area has been rejuvenated and the grass gradually grows back over the area but much thicker, greener and better than before.

So it seems like a kind of symbiotic relationship, but only for plants which grow in the area after the fungus has cleared it and regenerated it.

[ioan]

It looks like a type of fungus which I regularly come across, around the roots of plants in dry-ish soil.

The fungus is crumbly white when dry and has a strong metallic smell.
It also forms matted sandy-coloured clumps reminiscent of the texture of a washing up pan scourer and which are waterproof!
It has always caused terrible fairy-ring-like dead patches on my lawn due to the waterproof growth starving the grass (or other plant) roots of water. I don't think it affects deep-rooted plants.

Several months after the fungus has grown in an area (and killed all shallow-rooted plants, including drought-resistant ones), it's as if the area has been rejuvenated and the grass gradually grows back over the area but much thicker, greener and better than before.

So it seems like a kind of symbiotic relationship, but only for plants which grow in the area after the fungus has cleared it and regenerated it.

Thing is l intend to return to the nursery tomorrow, he's allready told me on the blower he hasn't a clue.
what I need to know l suppose is will this fungus kill the tree. If so it has to go back, cos it wasn't
cheap.
best bet is to take it back and have done with I guess.
Thanks for the help.
kind reg
ioan

[FB.]

what I need to know l suppose is will this fungus kill the tree.

No, I don't think it will kill the tree.
I have several apple trees in grass where the grass has been killed (and then regenerated) by the fungus I mentioned earlier, but the apple trees don't seem to be troubled, probably because they have deep roots.
The fungus may be thriving in the compost because it dries out easily and is more 'airy' than ordinary (compacted) soil. Most fungi are aerobic (need a good supply of oxygen), so they don't generally grow especially deep in the ground where aeration is poor.

Either plant the tree in the ground, or change what it's growing in to a less 'airy' mixture, such as 50/50 soil/compost.

[boundtothesoil]

Hi
Purchased this apple yesterday, took it out the pot today to plant up and
noticed this fungus, it goes all the way round the root ball, the roots look to be ok
and as you can see from the photo, the tree itself looks ok.
Anyone have an idea what it is, l thought maybe myciliniam, but honestly don't
know.
kind reg
ioan

I've often seen small patches of white fungal growth, similar to the look in your photo, in 100 liter bags of peat based compost . It can be particularly evident if you remove the plastic cover and look at the intact rectangular block. I've never taken any notice of it.

I wouldn't worry. Fungi are everywhere, breaking down organic matter, and the vast majority aren't going to feed on living apple roots.

[ioan]

I've often seen small patches of white fungal growth, similar to the look in your photo, in 100 liter bags of peat based compost . It can be particularly evident if you remove the plastic cover and look at the intact rectangular block. I've never taken any notice of it.

I wouldn't worry. Fungi are everywhere, breaking down organic matter, and the vast majority aren't going to feed on living apple roots.

Hi
l will return the tree today.
However l will retain it, if....the managment agree to replace it should l lose it, their call.
l think the reasoned advice on this thread is spot on.
On reflection, the culprit here is bark, lts been used as mulch and l think it my have also been used in the compost mix.
this would ideal for fungus growth,however l do, like you guys think its harmless.
thanks to all.
kind reg
ioan
.

[FB.]

I've often seen small patches of white fungal growth, similar to the look in your photo, in 100 liter bags of peat based compost . It can be particularly evident if you remove the plastic cover and look at the intact rectangular block. I've never taken any notice of it.

I wouldn't worry. Fungi are everywhere, breaking down organic matter, and the vast majority aren't going to feed on living apple roots.

Come to think of it, I've also seen it on the surface of sacks of compost - either shop-bought or which I've acquired from the local recycling centre or home-made.

But as many types of fungi are widespread, it's not worth getting too worried about them because there's not much you can do to stop them. Fungal spores are as prevalent as pollen (and can cause hay-fever-like symptoms in some people, sometimes even asthma).

If you have a microscope, during the growing season get a strip of sellotape and stick it to a surface which hasn't been cleaned for at least a few days, then peel it off and stick it onto a slide, then examine under a microscope. There will be numerous different pollen grains and fungal spores.

[ioan]

welsh style espalier

Hi
Sorted the tree out with the garden centre.
Kept the tree brought it home, gave it a tweak here and there, and l now have a Welsh style espalier
kind reg
ioan