Conifer Heart Rots in Scotland

A description is given of the five most important conifer heart rots and of Fomes annosus, Polyporus schweinitzii, Armillaria mellea, Trametes pini , and Stereum sanguinolentum , the fungi which cause them. The paper discusses their occurrence and distribution in Scotland, in particular in relation to site and stand histories. The importance of each of these decays in influencing forest management is considered, with special reference to species susceptibility and to regeneration on infected sites.