Decay-Causing Organisms and Their Effect on Wood Structure

2 Decay-Causing Organisms and Their Effect on Wood Structure 

The vast majority of wood-rot fungi belong to the class Basidiomycetes. They produce fruiting bodies, referred to as conks or sporophores, which are easily seen. 

The conks develop on decaying trees or other woody material and have a lower surface composed of many pores (Fig. 9.2.1) or, more rarely, gills. The pores are lined with basidia upon which four basidiospores are produced. 

Basidiomycetous wood-decay fungi produce cellulose-degrading enzymes of two principal types. Endocellulases hydrolytically split the long cellulose chain randomly, thereby producing many short cellulose chain fragments of varying 

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