White mass at base of Pine

Egroup · 02-15-2008, 08:37 PM

I have a medium sized Black Pine that I planted in the ground just prior to winter this year. I am planning to leave it there for a few years to thicken the trunk and improve the nebari, but I noticed a large (a little smaller than a base ball) mass of white... STUFF?... at the base of the roots today. It is on the surface of the soil, about 2 or 3 inches from the tree- was just under some mulch, and there may have been a small rock or stick over that place for a period of time. Is this just a build up of the microhiza (sp?) most likely?? I have seen that happen sometimes if you leave a rock on the surface of the soil in a pine... It was hard and almost cottony to the touch, and seemed to swell up out of the ground. It was kinda creepy really!

I don't have batteries for my camera but I'll get some tomorrow and post a pick...

I just wanted to make sure this is not something that could be a problem.

JTGJr25 · 02-15-2008, 09:23 PM

This is not a problem at all. What you are seeing is mycelium which is a fungus that lives within the roots of pines and other trees as well. This is a sign of a healthy root system.

Tom

Edit: I forgot to say that it is beneficial to the tree by helping it extract nutrients from the soil. ( I think thats what it does, someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

Kansai · 02-15-2008, 11:07 PM

Or it might be a mushroom. How 'bout that photo?

DR

Glider · 02-16-2008, 03:31 AM

Yep, it might be the fruiting body of the mycorrhyza.

treebeard55 · 02-16-2008, 10:33 AM

Tom, you're right that mycorrhiza (I'm never sure how to spell that) help the tree by effectively extending the reach of the root system. They also produce substances that inhibit other, harmful fungi. It's a win-win situation for the fungus and the tree.

Is it mycorrhiza? I'd say the white color is a good sign. Also, there was no mention of it being wet or slimy; from what I've seen, mycorrhiza aren't slimy.

Waiting to see the pic before I offer any more thoughts. Best of luck!

Prowler · 02-16-2008, 10:58 PM

Have you been a bit heavy handed with your feeding?
I have found this stuff? on inside trees in the winter,never outside.
If so, it could be just the feed that has not been used due to the fact the tree does not use it up in winter. It should go away once the weather heats up a bit. Cheers.

Egroup · 04-27-2008, 06:58 PM

Here we go, if I can get it to post... never done that on this forum before... I know most places have file size limitations.. OK looks like I got it.

The protruded part of the mass itself is about the size of a golf ball, and is firm but has some give when you press on it almost like a very firm foam, its dry and has gotten a darker color with time. Again, prolly the microhiza (Sp??), but if it is not, I wanted to know what it is.

Glider · 04-28-2008, 03:41 AM

It looks like a puffball mushroom to me. Nothing wrong with that. It looks old old and has changed to brown, so it's already done its job (released its spores). You can remove it if you want to.

The term 'mycorrhyzae' doesn't refer to a particular kind of fungi, it's more like the term 'marriage'. It the relationship between a fungus and the roots of plants that is called mycorrhyzae.

There is a large number of different fungi that can associate with tree roots, and a number of different types can associate with any particular tree. What you have there (as far as I can tell) is just the fruiting body of the fungus that has associated with your pine.

Egroup · 04-28-2008, 07:24 PM

thanks glider: I was under the assumption it was no big deal since my tree was fine, but I am just kinda freaked with my pines because I have not been dealing with Black Pine as long as some other species (Juniper, Azalea, Maple, Elm...) and the first one I ever had died unexplained...

Ahh well you know what they say: you don't really know a plant until you have killed it about 3 times! By that logic I should be well acquainted with all types of trees now!! JK

Glider · 04-29-2008, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Egroup

Ahh well you know what they say: you don't really know a plant until you have killed it about 3 times! By that logic I should be well acquainted with all types of trees now!! JK

Yes, I think so. I think you'd have to be a very special kind of person to kill a plant three times.

02-15-2008, 08:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Egroup Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 33	White mass at base of Pine I have a medium sized Black Pine that I planted in the ground just prior to winter this year. I am planning to leave it there for a few years to thicken the trunk and improve the nebari, but I noticed a large (a little smaller than a base ball) mass of white... STUFF?... at the base of the roots today. It is on the surface of the soil, about 2 or 3 inches from the tree- was just under some mulch, and there may have been a small rock or stick over that place for a period of time. Is this just a build up of the microhiza (sp?) most likely?? I have seen that happen sometimes if you leave a rock on the surface of the soil in a pine... It was hard and almost cottony to the touch, and seemed to swell up out of the ground. It was kinda creepy really! I don't have batteries for my camera but I'll get some tomorrow and post a pick... I just wanted to make sure this is not something that could be a problem.

02-15-2008, 09:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
JTGJr25 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Jersey Posts: 230	This is not a problem at all. What you are seeing is mycelium which is a fungus that lives within the roots of pines and other trees as well. This is a sign of a healthy root system. Tom Edit: I forgot to say that it is beneficial to the tree by helping it extract nutrients from the soil. ( I think thats what it does, someone correct me if I'm wrong.) Last edited by JTGJr25; 02-15-2008 at 09:41 PM..

02-15-2008, 11:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kansai Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NE Kansas, S Texas Posts: 101	Or it might be a mushroom. How 'bout that photo? DR __________________ Bonsai is easy! All you have to do is stare at a little tree until drops of blood form on your forehead.--paraphrased from Gene Fowler

02-16-2008, 10:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
treebeard55 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Warsaw IN, USA USDA zone 5b Posts: 511	Tom, you're right that mycorrhiza (I'm never sure how to spell that) help the tree by effectively extending the reach of the root system. They also produce substances that inhibit other, harmful fungi. It's a win-win situation for the fungus and the tree. Is it mycorrhiza? I'd say the white color is a good sign. Also, there was no mention of it being wet or slimy; from what I've seen, mycorrhiza aren't slimy. Waiting to see the pic before I offer any more thoughts. Best of luck! __________________ Treebeard 55 Steve Moore http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com The most important bonsai tool is your brain.

02-16-2008, 10:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Prowler Deceased: 11/24/2008 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 361	Have you been a bit heavy handed with your feeding? I have found this stuff? on inside trees in the winter,never outside. If so, it could be just the feed that has not been used due to the fact the tree does not use it up in winter. It should go away once the weather heats up a bit. Cheers. __________________ Its hell out there, give them hell back.

02-16-2008, 03:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Glider Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 70	Yep, it might be the fruiting body of the mycorrhyza.

04-28-2008, 03:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
Glider Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 70	It looks like a puffball mushroom to me. Nothing wrong with that. It looks old old and has changed to brown, so it's already done its job (released its spores). You can remove it if you want to. The term 'mycorrhyzae' doesn't refer to a particular kind of fungi, it's more like the term 'marriage'. It the relationship between a fungus and the roots of plants that is called mycorrhyzae. There is a large number of different fungi that can associate with tree roots, and a number of different types can associate with any particular tree. What you have there (as far as I can tell) is just the fruiting body of the fungus that has associated with your pine.

04-28-2008, 07:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
Egroup Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 33	thanks glider: I was under the assumption it was no big deal since my tree was fine, but I am just kinda freaked with my pines because I have not been dealing with Black Pine as long as some other species (Juniper, Azalea, Maple, Elm...) and the first one I ever had died unexplained... Ahh well you know what they say: you don't really know a plant until you have killed it about 3 times! By that logic I should be well acquainted with all types of trees now!! JK

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