400-Year-Old Tree Infected with Deadly Fungus to be Axed in Hong Kong

A 400-year-old tree will be chopped down in Hong Kong. According to authorities, the tree developed a fungal infection, which is spreading to other nearby trees.

The tree is said to be around since the Qing dynasty, AFP reported.

A major portion of the tree collapsed in 2007 after a massive typhoon hit the country, but it still towers above other trees in the region.

"No other banyan tree was as old as this one, none was as big as this one," Jim Chi-yung who is chair of Hong Kong University geography department, told AFP.  The tree is 72 feet in height with a crown spread of 27 meters.

"King Banyan" as the tree is fondly called in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the deadly brown root rot disease in 2009. The tree got infected due to human activities as park authorities in 1989 buried the tree roots in tons of soil and concrete to level the nearby area. Concrete blocked the air and nutrient supply to the tree, resulting in the  deadly infection.

Many local tree experts and conservationists have said that the deadly fungal disease is spreading to a lot of old trees in Hong Kong. They also said that hikers' boots with debris, imported plants carrying the fungus and even monkeys are responsible for the spread of the infection in trees, the South China Morning Post reported.

Many types of fungus cause the root rot disease. Infected roots appear dark brown or even black and have few or no root tips. The affected roots are also limp and not brittle as healthy roots.  Experts say that the roots must be incinerated to stop the spread of the fungus to other trees.

"It has become a locus of disease spread we don't want it to affect other trees in the vicinity or in the district," Jim told AFP. He also served on the government expert panel that made the decision to cut-down the ancient tree.