Abstract

A host of physical and environmental factors may influence fungal decay including the wood substrate, temperature, moisture, oxygen, light, pH, and nitrogen. Understanding the effects of these factors on fungal decay is important for the effective utilization of wood decay fungi in biotechnological processes and for understanding the role of these organisms in global carbon cycling. The ascomycete Xylaria hypoxylon causes white rot of hardwoods, but remains relatively under-characterized. In this investigation, the decay capability of this fungus was studied using beech, hornbeam, oak and pine. Although Xylaria species are considered as causing white rot decay, Type II soft rot erosion was observed on hornbeam, Type I soft rot cavities were noted on beech, simultaneous rot was found on oak and selective rot on pine. Results indicated that both wood species and cell wall chemistry affected morphological decay patterns illustrating the relationships between fungal enzymatic capacity and wood cell wall structure/chemistry.

Keywords

White rot; Xylaria hypoxylon; soft rot; wood species; cell wall chemistry; fungal decay strategies

Published in

Proceedings IRG Annual Meeting
2022,
Publisher: The International Research Group on Wood Protection

Conference

The International Research Group on Wood Protection (IRG),IRG53 Scientific Conference on Wood Protection Bled, Slovenia 29 May – 2 June, 2022

Authors' information