Preserving Fungus

[GoodYautja]

While in NYC I often find large (12-14") Ash branches having broken off an otherwise healthy looking tree. This latest one, in a rare Black Ash, I was able to inspect and the heartwood of the broken branch was thick with white rot.

I work in a semi-educational setting and I wish to keep this specimen, however I certainly do not wish to be contaminating myself on a daily basis with this white rot and then, as my job requires, go climb Ash trees all day long! I am seeking ideas as to how I might best preserve this and keep it from contaminating my work area, thank you!

 

[KTSmith]

If your goal is to not serve as a vector for this decay organism, simple air-drying should do the trick. Even if it were fresh, simple handling of the sample followed by a day of climbing would not likely result in new decay infections. With other types of pathogens, I'd be more cautious.

 

[GoodYautja]

Great to know, thank you!

 

[guymayor]

O and that looks like a white mycelium over a brown (lignin-digesting) rot.

Not to pick nits or anything...

 

[GoodYautja]

note: This piece of heartwood, even though it came from a large living -although now broken- branch, was completely dried out.

 

[mrtree]

Was there ring shake involved that prevented the movement of water into the heartwood?

 

[GoodYautja]

Was there ring shake involved that prevented the movement of water into the heartwood?

I'm not familiar with ring shake. All i know is that when a piece of the heartwood dropped and hit the sidewalk it sounded like it had been ten years dried out (and felt that way too)