First Announcement Delegates can apply for ISA Continuing Education Units (CEU)s

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Course Description First Announcement Delegates can apply for ISA Continuing Education Units (CEU)s Course A Tree Decay and Management. its significance for tree hazard assessment.

1 Course Description First Announcement Delegates can apply for ISA Continuing Education Units (CEU)s Course A Tree Decay and Management. its significance for tree hazard assessment. A full understanding of the interactions between wood decay fungi and living trees requires studies at various levels: anatomical, physiological and biochemical. As far as the structural effects of decay are concerned, anatomical studies are essential because they help explain how the wood of various tree species functions as a composite engineering material and how wood decay fungi can dismantle this material with various strategies for cell wall degradation. In order to interpret the alterations in woody cell walls caused by decay fungi co-evolutionary processes of fungal adaptation to the wood substrate must be understood. This knowledge also enables interpretation of degradation modes and prediction of whether the xylem of a specific host will be resistant or susceptible to a certain type of decay. Concepts of compartmentalization of fungal colonisation in the xylem of trees are largely based on descriptions of patterns of discoloration and decay. The mechanisms by which wood decay fungi may overcome host barriers have so far been the subject of only a few studies. Elucidation of the means by which wood decay fungi penetrate the boundaries and thus bring about lesion expansion requires direct microscopic observations. In this presentation evidence is provided that, for the long-term predictions of the development of decay in trees, information of individual host-fungus associations that involve both host response and fungal invasiveness should be considered. Such information is pivotal and requires a detailed knowledge of all the factors described above, especially if the tree under inspection can be retained. In this way, hazard assessment is more objective and would be in the interests of both safety and the retention of trees for amenity and wildlife conservation.

2 diagnostic Instruments versus visual inspection Although a number of weakly invasive diagnostic techniques exist, it is by no means clear whether all of them can be reliably used to detect and assess different types of decay. This is apparent in the case of decay caused by Kretzschmaria deusta which, unlike many other forms of decay, cannot be detected by a stress-wave timer. In this presentation different techniques for detecting wood decay in trees are evaluated, and it will be demonstrated that the resulting data can be related to the mode of cell-wall degradation as observed by light microscopy. Some techniques used for detecting decay create injuries that can become avenues for the extension of existing decay. It is commonly assumed that diagnostic techniques that inflict large wounds (e.g. the increment borer) cause more damage to trees and promote invasiveness of wood-decay fungi into previously sound wood than smaller wounds caused by the IML-Resistograph needle for example. Own studies greatly question the latter assumption and demonstrate the need to consider carefully when their use is necessary and when they may need to be used with particular care and responsibility. In this context, it is of outmost importance to stress that results obtained with any diagnostic technique merely allows assessment of the status quo of a decay column within a tree. With this information alone the tree assessor will not be able to provide the client with information on the future development of decay within the tree. An alternative to the use of invasive diagnostic devices is the interpretation of decay purely by visual inspection. If a tree responds to damage with strong compensation growth by the buttress roots or by the formation of secondary roots it is capable of compensating for a central decay column over a long time. In this presentation the development of wood decay in the butt and roots and associated external bark symptoms will be explained and a key for interpretation provided. The concept of using biological control methods has become increasingly important in recent years because of legislative and consumer pressures to eliminate or reduce the use of traditional biocide-based wood preservatives. Due to effective control of plant diseases, several commercial biological products based on Trichoderma species are manufactured and marketed in Asia, Europe and USA for use on a wide range of crops. The objective of this presentation is to explain the concept and mechanisms of biological control. The potential of different Trichoderma species as biocontrol agents against European and tropical wood decay fungi e.g. Phellinus noxius will be demonstrated.

3 Biography of Presenter: Prof. Dr. Francis W.M.R. Schwarze National Diploma of Arboriculture at Merrist Wood College, UK (1991), Master of Science in Pure & Applied Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, University of Reading, UK (1992), PhD at Freiburg University (1995). Appointment as Head of the Research Group Wood Protection and Biotechnology, Wood Laboratory Department, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA), St. Gallen, CH, (2006); Appointment as Professor by the Senate of the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Br., D. since Dr. Schwarze is an officially appointed and attested expert on wood decay of urban trees, concentrating on research into wood-decay fungi, fungus-host interactions and the use of fungi for beneficial purposes e.g. for improving the acoustic properties of wood for violins or biological control. He is a member of the British Mycological Society and a senior scientist of Empa: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology - Wood Laboratory. Francis Schwarze has made highly significant contributions to fundamental understanding of wood decay by fungi and has applied the knowledge for the benefit of such important wood science and technology areas as permeability enhancement of heart-woods and refractory timbers, detection of tree rings, performance evaluation of thermomechanically densified wood, enhancement of acoustic properties of violins, and biocontrol of decay fungi affecting urban tree health. Many areas of his work have been regarded as pathbreaking research and have been published in high impact international journals e.g. Nature Biotechnology and New Phytologist, attracting attention of such high profile journals as Nature for commentaries.

4 PROGRAMME Course A Tree Decay and Management.. Day 1. Wood anatomy and fungal biology Day 2. Types of wood decay and host-fungus-interactions (decay dynamics) Course B Tree Hazard Assessment. Invasive diagnostic Instruments versus visual inspection Day 1 : Pro & cons of diagnostic devices Day 2: Application of symptoms associated with wood decay for tree hazard assessment/ Biological control of wood decay

5 Organizer : LNS Limited Date : Course A Course B Time : 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. ( 8:45 a.m. Registration) Venue : To be advised Working Language : English Registration : Please send the registration form by to :event@lns.com.hk Application deadline : 15 th January 2012 Payment methods : Payment can be made after receiving confirmation from the organizer. By cheque made payable to LNS Limited. Please return the registration form together with a cheque / bank transfer receipt to the following address: LNS Limited, Room 1801, Wing On Central Building, 26 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong Enquiry: Contact Ms. Wong Tel: event@lns.com.hk

6 Registration Form Course: Course A Tree Decay and Management. Adaptation of wood decay fungi to wood - and its significance for tree hazard assessment. diagnostic Instruments versus visual inspection using decay associated symptoms Surname: ( Mr / Ms) First Name: Organization/Company: Position: Correspondence Address: address: Tel: Course dates Course A Course B Course Fee for early bird Register and pay on or before 16 th December 2011 : Course A HK$3,800 Course B HK$3,800 Registered after 16 th December 2011 Course A HK$4,000 Course B HK$4,000 Certificate of Attendance Yes Payment: Cheque No.: Bank Name: Amount HK$

7 Terms and Conditions 1. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. 2. All cheques shall be crossed and made payable to the organizer LNS Limited to confirm registration and are subject to bank clearance. 3. There is no refund for cancellation of booking initiated by registrant. However, the registration may be transferred to another person from the same company or organisation at no extra charge by notifying the organiser at least 3 days prior to the commencement of the course. 4. The Organiser reserves the right to cancel the course should there be insufficient candidates or for other reasons. Course fee will then be refunded 100%. 5. All candidates will be informed well in advance should there be any change of course date due to unforeseen circumstances. 6. Applicants will be notified by to confirm successful registrations. An official receipt will be provided on the day of the event. 7. Applicants are expected to attend the course at the place and time notified by the organizer. 8. Before the course commences, if Typhoon Signal No.8 or above/black Rainstorm Warning is in force; or Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above will be hoisted within 2 hours, the course will be cancelled. The course will be held as scheduled if Typhoon Signal No.8 or above/black Rainstorm Warning is lowered at or before 7:00 am. The afternoon session of the course will be held as scheduled if Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above/black Rainstorm Warning is lowered at or before 12:00 p.m.

Tree Decay Fungi Knowledge and Recognition Programme 18 th April 2011

Tree Decay Fungi Knowledge and Recognition Programme 18 th April 2011 Second Announcement Course Description The course would cover the work of Dr F Schwarze, Prof. Dr Claus Mattheck, Dr Alan Raynor, Dr Lyn Boddy, Prof. Dr Olaf Schmidt. All the content would be specific