Early interactions of Heterobasidion annosum and Stereum sanguinolentum with non‐decay fungi and bacteria following inoculation into stems of Picea abies

Different combinations of two decay fungi ( Heterobasidion annosum, Stereum sanguinolentum ), two non‐decay fungi ( Nectria fuckeliana, Ascocoryne cylichnium ), a yeast‐like fungus and two bacteria ( Bacillus pumilus, Enterobacter agglomerans ) all of spruce origin, were inoculated into stems of 16 healthy‐looking Picea abies . Growth and survival of the microbes were followed over the subsequent five years. The rapid upward vertical spread of the decay fungi during the first two years was followed by a later regression and loss of these decay fungi by the fifth year. The stems were effectively colonized by the bacteria, A. cylichnium and/or Neobulgaria premnophila which then persisted over the whole experimental period. The endophytic fungi, N. premnophila and A. cylichnium , were abundant in the stems of the experimental trees before inoculation.