Basal failure of poplar induced by Laetiporus sulphureus brown rot

During some relatively strong winds a few months ago, I came across this fallen poplar (Populus x canadensis). At first glance, I thought it was just doing what poplars do rather well – break. However, a closer inspection revealed not only a sporophore of the fungus Laetiporus sulphureus, but very extensive brown rot at the basal zone. It also appeared the tree was largely dead. Such factors certainly explain why this individual failed, whilst the others around it did not.

To the bottom of the image, we can observe an old sporophore of the fungus (and small remainders upon the stem).

Looking at another angle, we can begin to see how this tree failed.

A close-up of the remaining structure reveals very extensive brown rot throughout the basal region.