For Armillaria, which planting practice helps reduce spread by avoiding areas near pushed-in stumps and broken roots?

• A. Plant away from pushed in stumps and broken roots
• B. Plant near stumps
• C. Plant in dense stands
• D. Clearcuts only where infestation is not present

Answer: (A)

Armillaria spreads through rhizomorphs that extend from infected stumps and broken roots and can reach healthy seedlings through root-to-root contact. Planting away from pushed-in stumps and exposed or damaged root areas directly reduces the seedling’s contact with the fungal network and the inoculum in the soil. By keeping new plantings distant from these sources, you limit the pathways the fungus uses to move from old, infected material into young trees, lowering the chance of infection.

Planting near stumps would increase exposure to the fungus. Planting in dense stands can actually facilitate spread among hosts because of closer root contacts and canopy competition. Clearing only where infestation is not present is a broader site condition and not a direct planting practice to reduce spread from nearby infected material. The best approach to minimize Armillaria spread is to situate new plantings away from pushed-in stumps and broken roots.