Decay fungi

The best protection for wood against the attack of decay fungi, insects, or marine borers is obtained by applying preservatives under pressure before installation (61,62). Both oil-type preservatives, such as creosote or petroleum solutions of pentachlorophenol, and waterborne preservatives, such as copper-chrome arsenate and ammoniacal-copper arsenate, are used when wood is to be in direct contact with the ground or in the marine environments. 

Highley T. Effect of carbohydrate and nitrogen on hydrogen peroxide formation by wood decay fungi in solid medium. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1987 48 373-378. 

Micales JA, Highley TL. In vitro production of hydrogen peroxide by degradative andnon-degradative isolates ofbrown-rot wood decay fungi. Phytopathology 1989 77 988. 

Green F, Larsen M, Highley TL. Ultrastructural morphology of the hyphal sheath of wood-decay fungi modified by preparation for scanning electron microscopy, in Biodeterioration Research, Vol. Ill, Plenum Press, New York, 1990. 

Imamura, Y. and Nishimoto, K. (1987b). Bending properties of acetylated particleboards exposed to decay fungi. Mokuzai Gakkaishi, 33(1), 25-30. 

Peterson, M.D. and Thomas, R.J. (1978). Protection of wood from decay fungi by acetylation—an ultrastructural and chemical study. Wood and Fiber, 10(3), 149-163. 

In some species, however, e.g. ash, Fraxinus excelsior, cells of the traumatic axial parenchyma of the compartmentalization wall 4 may show no evidence of cell wall alterations, yet appear to act normally as a functional barrier to decay (Pearce, R.B., unpublished data). It is to be presumed that the spread of decay fungi is arrested either by chemical defences or by environmental constraints (cf. 26-28) in such species. Clearly, a contribution may be made by these defences in suberizing species also phytoalexin-like antifungal compounds have been detected in association with a suberized wall 4 barrier in Acer saccharinum (42). More work will be required to elucidate the long-term effectiveness of the various mechanisms maintaining the function of these barrier walls. 

Goodell, B., Jellison, J., Liu, J., Daniel, G., Paszczynski, A., Fekete, F., Krishnamurthy, S., Lu, L., and Xu, G. (1997). Low molecular weight chelators and phenolic compounds isolated from wood decay fungi and their role in the fungal biodegradation of wood. J. Biotechnol. 53,133-162. 

To prevent growth of wood-inhabiting fungi it is customary to treat wood with chemicals which are toxic to fungi. To pro-tect wood in service from deterioration by decay fungi, the chemicals, called wood preservatives, are applied in most cases by pressure treatment because deep penetration into the wood is essential. Wood products intended for use where the decay hazard is low are unlikely to require pressure treatment but in many instances may require superficial fungicidal treatment to prevent fungal discoloration. 

Abu, A. R., Murphy, R. J. Dickinson, D. J. (1999). Investigation of the extracellular mucilaginous materials produced by some wood decay fungi. Mycological Research, 103, 1453-61. 

The role of wood decay fungi in the carbon and nitrogen dynamics of the forest floor... 

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