a) Butt rot disease

1) caused by Fomes annosus

2) causes mortality in younger deodar whereas reduces in growth due to death of roots.

3) established in new areas usually through basidospones and sometimes through conidia.

4) freshly cut stump surface is highly selective for F. annosus.

5) serious disease in extensive coniferous plantation.

Symptoms

1) Decay in roots may result in wind throw of trees.

2) Fungus produces on the root thin, white, mycelial sheets between the bark and the wood.

3) Fungus produces white pocket rot in the wood.

4) The perennial fruit bodies (sporophore) develop at the base of the tree. Basidocarpes are produced in abundance.

Control

1) Silvicultural control

a) Mechanised plantation may be raised to eliminated disease inoculum where stumps and residual roots are removed.

b) Seasonal thinning of pine plantation when temperature is lethal to Fomes annosus spores for infecting stumps is a practical and effective means of controlling F. annosus.

2) Chemical control

Chemicals like creosote, urea (20%) sodium can be used in chemical treatment of freshly cut stumps in that areas where disease is not prevalent.

3) Biological control

Innocuous fungus Peniophora gigantea can be used in inoculating stumps to control fungus spreading.

b) Butt and trunk rot

1) caused by Fomes annosus and Peniophora luna.

c) Root and butt rot disease

1) caused by Polyporus tomentosa.

2) causes rotting through injury caused by fire.

d) Witches broom

1) caused by Peridermium cedri.

2) the fungus attains young needles of the current year's shoot and makes them curve backwards.

3) the affected needles are shed early and the foliage becomes thin giving the affected branches appearance of Witches brooms.

Control

Systematic removal of affected branches and trees is the only remedy to keep disease under control.