Habitat
There are several conditions that favor disease development and spread. Heart rot fungi, including ''P. pini'', enter trees as mycelium or basidiospores through branch stubs, tree stumps, damaged roots, dead branches, and wounds in general and go on to infect the heartwood of the tree. Fire and cutting operations cause the most common points of entry for the fungus. Moist environments also facilitate fungal growth. Spores blown by the wind land and germinate on wounds, so in managed forests, care should be taken to prevent any injury to trees during harvest or other activities. This disease is most common in the Pacific Northwest, where cool wet weather greatly facilitates the pathogen.References:
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