Microbial population in rotten living body of Salix matsudana

lntroductionSofar,veryfewtheoreticaIstudiesonwood-rothavebeenreported.Duringthepastlongtime,theproceduresofwood-rottingweredividedintothreestagesfrotincipientstage,fromhyphaeintrusiontowoodremarkabIediscoloration,rotmiddlestage,fromwooddiscolorationtotheevidentchangeofwoodtopography;rotendstage,fromthesecondstagetowoodradicaIdecomposition.Accordingtothistheory,wooddiscoIorationwasoffenregardedaswood-rot.ActualIy,wooddiscoIorationisacommonphenomenon,whichcanbecausedbytheintrusionofwood-rottin…     

Fallen wood decomposition ofPinus koraiensis andTilia amurensis

Fallen wood decomposition rate ofPinus koraiensis andTilia amurensis in broadleaved Korean pine forest was studied in this paper. The result showed that decomposition rate of fallen wood was different from that of little diameter wood and coarse woody debris for the same tree species. Fallen wood decomposition was generally rotten from outside to inside. And decomposition speed of fallen woods was different according to tree species and site, and it was also related to diameter of fallen woods. Decomposition depth ofTilia amurensis fallen wood for 17 years was 14 cm, but that ofPinus koraiensis in the same condition was less than 7 cm.Tilia amurensis was decomposed faster thanPinus koraiensis. For same tree species, if the diameter was small, the decomposition speed was quick. This project was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 39670144) and funded by the Opened Research Station of Changhai Mountain Forest Ecosystem, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (Responsible editor: Zhu Hong)     

Contribution of active defense responses in the limitation of fungal spread in the sapwood of living sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) tree

The participation of active defense responses in the limitation of fungal spread in the sapwood of living sugi tree was determined. Isolates ofGuignardia cryptomeriae were inoculated to living trees, fresh logs, frozen and thawed logs and autoclaved logs, and the spread of wood discoloration and fungal hyphae was assessed. In autoclaved logs and freeze-treated logs, wood discoloration and reaction zone formation were not observed, and fungal hyphae of both of virulent and avirulent isolates grew rapidly in the wood. In fresh logs, wood discoloration and the formation of a pale reaction zone and transition zone were observed. Virulent isolates spread rapidly, but the spread of avirulent isolates was inhibited. In living trees, wood discoloration was observed and reaction zones were formed at lesion margins. These results indicated that constitutive defense mechanisms had no effect on the spread of both of virulent and avirulent isolates, and that active defense responses were important in the limitation of spread of fungal hyphae, hence in the limitation of wood discoloration. Further, it appeared that avirulent, but not virulent, races ofG. cryptomeriae were easily inhibited even by weak host responses. This study was presented at 105th and 106th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society.     

Blue stain fungi associated withTomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) on Japanese red pine

A number of various species of blue-stain fungi were isolated fromTomicus piniperda adults at various stages of development, as well as from the galleries, pupal chambers and sapwood underneath galleries on Japanese red pine. This study was an attempt to identify the species, composition of blue-stain fungi associated withT. piniperda, the frequency of occurrence of the fungi, and their role in the sapwood-staining of Japanese red pine in Tsukuba City, central Japan. Among the seven species of blue-stain fungi isolated, an undescribed species ofOphiostoma together withO. minus were the dominant species and closely associated withT. piniperda. These two species occurred on newly emerging adults more frequently than the overwintered adults.Hormonema dematioides was also associated with the beetle, however, its frequency of occurrence from the emerged new adults was very low. Although the two other species,O. ips andGraphium sp. were also isolated from emerged beetles, the frequency of these fungi from gallery systems suggested that they were accidentally carried byT. piniperda. Leptographium wingfieldii, known to be associated with the beetle in Europe, was also isolated at a very low frequency and the fungus seemed not to be closely associated with the beetle.Ophiostoma sp. andO. minus appear to be the most important causes of blue-stain of Japanese red pine sapwood after infestation byT. piniperda.     

Blue stain fungi associated withIps cembrae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Japanese larch in connection with their brood development

The association between blue stain fungi andIps cembrae Heer (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) was investigated in the Japanese larch,Larix leptolepis Gordon, in the Nagoya University Forest, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.I. cembrae had one or two generation(s) in a year in this study area. Two blue stain fungi,Ophiostoma piceae andLeptographium sp., were isolated from the body surface of both male adults in mating chambers and female adults in parent galleries, suggesting that this beetle species was a vector of these fungi. Although no blue stain fungi were isolated from non-stained wood, both fungi were isolated from the mating chambers, the center and the uppermost end of the galleries throughout the season. The fact thatO. piceae was consistently isolated with high frequency from adults and from their galleries strongly suggested that this species would be the principal blue stain fungus infecting the beetle-attacked larch trees.     

Anatomical characterization of decayed wood in standing light red meranti and identification of the fungi isolated from the decayed area

To further our understanding of wood decay in living light red meranti (Shorea smithiana) trees, microscopic characteristics of the cell and cell wall degradations of S. smithiana wood in the presence of the decay fungi, the identity of the causal fungi, and the decay potential and pattern by an isolated fungus were investigated. Cell wall degradations, including cell wall thinning, bore holes formation, rounded pit erosion, and eroded channel opening were clearly observed under light and scanning electron microscopy. In transverse view, many large voids resulting from a coalition of degraded wood tissue appeared in the decayed canker zone. All these observations suggest the well-known simultaneous decay pattern caused by white-rot fungi. By phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA, a basidiomycete fungus isolated from the decayed wood was identified as Schizophyllum commune. The degradation caused by this fungus on sound S. smithiana wood in an in situ laboratory decay test was classified as the early stage of simultaneous decay, and showed a similar pattern to that observed in the wood samples naturally decayed.     

Influence of wood species on the sawdust-based cultivation ofPleurotus abalonus andPleurotus eryngii

Mycelial growth and fruit body formation ofPleurotus abalonus andP. eryngii cultured on various sawdust-based substrates from different wood species were investigated. Growth onCryptomeria japonica substrate resulted in good mycelial growth and a high yield of fruit bodies.Larix kaempferi substrate was unsuitable for the cultivation of these mushrooms. The fruit body formation rate correlated with mycelial growth from all the wood species tested. Although differences were found for mycelial growth and fruit body formation on various wood species, there were no wood species that were completely unsuitable exceptL. kaempferi. These results show that a wide range of wood species can be used for the cultivation ofP. abalonus andP. eryngii.     

Gaseous treatment with allyl isothiocyanate to control established microbial infestation on wood

Applicability of gaseous treatment with allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) was evaluated for controlling the established microbial infestation of wood in the laboratory. Small sapwood specimens from five wood species measuring 20 mm (T)×20 mm (R)×10 mm (L) were first preincubated on 2% malt-agar medium with placing them on a fully grown monoculture of seven test fungi. After 7 weeks of preincubation they were transferred to fresh medium and exposed to AIT fumigant at concentrations of 2360 and 23600ppm AIT in the air of a petri dish to determine threshold values of exposure periods for each test fungus. The 2360 ppm concentration was not effective forPenicillium funiculosum, Gliocladium virens, orRhizopus stolonifer for any of the wood species-exposure period combinations. Those test fungi could grow even at 23600ppm after 48h exposure whenCryptomeria japonica andFagus crenata were used as wood substrate. Growth of other test fungi was inhibited at 2360ppm with a few exceptions in the case ofAspergillus niger. The required periods of exposure to suppress microbial regrowth were different with wood species-test fungi combinations. As two wood-decaying basidiomycetes,Trametes versicolor andFomitopsis palustris, were easily controlled at 2360ppm after 24h exposure regardless of wood species, AIT treatment proved applicable to the control of internal decay of utility poles and other relevant products in service.     

Resistance of gamma-irradiated sapwood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis> to biological attacks

Any means helpful for the promotion of termite feeding activity has potential for use in a matrix in termite bait application. Therefore, energy transfer by gamma irradiation is worthy of consideration for converting wood into termite-accessible material. Wood specimens gamma-irradiated at 100 kGy and at lower levels were tested for their degrees of polymerization (DP) of cellulose and biological resistance. The DP of cellulose adversely decreased with increased doses of gamma irradiation. Termite wood consumption rates, which were determined by laboratory tests using undifferentiated larvae (workers) of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, were significantly higher at 100 kGy than at other doses. On the other hand, the decay resistance of gamma-irradiated wood against the fungi Fomitopsis palustris (Berkeley et Curtis) Murrill and Trametes versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Quel did not vary by irradiation dose.     

竹材木质素降解菌的筛选与鉴定*

竹材木质素的降解一直是制约竹材资源利用的重要影响因素。文章通过对49 份腐烂的竹材样品进行平板划线分离纯化得到74 株真菌,利用PDA- 愈创木酚变色及PDA- 苯胺蓝退色反应,初步筛选出具有木质素降解酶能力的4 株木质素降解菌,通过酶活力测定对初筛得到的4 株木质素降解菌进行复筛,发现FG-22 菌株具有较好木质素降解能力,对FG-22 降解菌株进行形态学和分子生物学鉴定,确定FG-22 为杂色云芝（Trametes versicolor）。     

沈阳天柱山活立木腐朽菌的调查研究

通过对东陵天柱山所有树木种类及立木腐朽发生情况的详细调查,结果显示:天柱山区域内乔、灌树种共有19科60多种,其中有11科32种被活立木腐朽菌寄生。引起活立木腐朽的病原菌共有21种,分属真菌和细菌2大类别,真菌是引起树木腐朽病的主要类群。腐朽菌主要发生在干、干基、干皮部、枝杈和枝部,引起白色、黑色和褐色3种类型腐朽。发病的主要品种为京桃、垂柳、家榆、刺槐和暴马丁香等。常见的腐朽菌多为绒毛栓菌、裂褶菌、科普锐齿菌、多年卧孔菌、平伏刷革菌和欧文氏细菌。     

Effect of thermal modification temperature on the mechanical properties,dimensional stability,and biological durability of black spruce (Picea mariana)

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of thermal modification temperature on the mechanical properties, dimensional stability, and biological durability of Picea mariana. The boards were thermally modified at different temperatures 190, 200 and 210 °C. The results indicated that the thermal modification of wood caused a significant decrease in the modulus of rupture (MOR) after 190 °C, while the modulus of elasticity (MOE) seemed less affected with a slight increase up to 200 °C and slight decrease with further increase in temperature. The hardness of the thermally modified wood increased in the axial direction. This increase was also observed in tangential and axial directions but at a lesser extent. The final value was slightly higher in axial direction and lower in radial and tangential directions compared to those of the untreated wood. Dimensional stability improved with thermal modification in the three directions compared to the dimensional stability of unmodified wood. The fungal degradation results showed that the decay resistance of thermally modified wood against the wood-rotting fungi Trametes versicolor and Gloephyllum trabeum improved compared to that of the untreated wood. By contrast, the thermal modification of P. mariana had a limited effect on the degradation caused by the fungus Poria placenta.     

Study on biological characteristics ofHendersornia acicola

The morphological and cultural characteristics ofHendersonia acicola Munch & Tub., isolated from the needles ofPinus sylvestris var.mongolica Litvin, were described. The fungi was cultured on three kinds of media and the speed of mycelial growth and the required time to produce conidia were different. On the medium of needle decoction agar, the fungi grew fast and produced conidia after 5 days culturing. On PDA came second and it needed 7 days to produce conidia. On the medium of maize flour agar, it grew slowly and produces conidia after 27 days incubating. The fungi cannot produce conidia under darkness on all three kinds of media. The conidia can germinate at 8°C–28°C. The optimum conditions for conidia to germinate are 25°C, RH 100% and pH 4 and under these conditions it only takes four hours for conidia to germinate. The conidia germination is not affected by light     

白桦木材变色生防菌的筛选研究

木材变色病原菌易引起木材变色,使木材发生降等。笔者采用从白桦原位土壤及自身组织分离纯化的方法,寻找对白桦变色病原菌具有拮抗作用的生防菌。经过改良5点对峙试验,筛选出对白桦木材变色5种病原菌具有拮抗作用的生防菌菌株共42株,其中x18及x26对5种病原菌都具有明显的拟制效果,菌落抑菌圈半径最大达2.1 cm。     

Infection of red palm weevil,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Rhynchophorus ferrugineus</Emphasis>, by spore-forming bacilli indigenous to its natural habitat in Egypt

A search for means of biologically controlling the red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus resulted in the isolation of several microbial cultures belonging to bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. Among the obtained cultures, three potent spore-forming bacilli were further isolated from natural habitats associated with insect-damaged date palms in Egypt. The isolated bacterial cultures, (strains 73, 15 and 27) were identified as variants of Bacillus sphaericus, B. megaterium and B. laterosporus, respectively. Under standard bioassay conditions, the mortalities of the second-instar larvae of the target insect induced by the three isolated bacilli variants ranged between 40 and 60%. The most active culture (strain no. 73) was identified as B. sphaericus. This isolate formed spherical endospores and crystalline endotoxin comparable to those of B. sphaericus standard strain 2362, which is pathogenic to mosquito larvae, as shown by electron microscopy. However, the amino acid composition of the spore-endotoxin complexes was markedly different.     

Charcoal and fuel value of agroforestry tree crops

Charcoal was produced from short rotation tropical species ofLeucaena leucocephala andTectona grandis. The combustion-related properties, moisture content, specific gravity and percentage element composition of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and ash in wood and charcoal from the two species were determined. The gross heat of combustion of wood and charcoal was also determined.There were significant differences in the moisture content, specific gravity and percentage element composition between wood and charcoal from the two species. The carbon and ash content of charcoal were higher than those of wood. The average heat of combustion of charcoal 25.25 MJKg^–1 was higher than that of wood 13.75 MJKg^–1.     

Discoloured wood of aspen caused by increment boring

Decay resulting from increment borings varies with tree species. Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloidcs Michx.) in Newfoundland is seriously affected by this particular wound. Three years after 20 trees had been bored, none had healed probably because of a pronounced split of the bark. The wood discoloration extended horizontally to about 2 cm on each side and vertically half metre above and below the wound. Peniophora polygonia (Pers. ex Fr.) Bourd. et Galz. was the most common fungus isolated while Polyporus adustus Willd. ex Fr. and several imperfect fungi and bacteria were also present.     

First record of the wood boring weevil, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pentarthrum huttoni</Emphasis>, in Austria (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The wood boring weevil, Pentarthrum huttoni Wollaston, is reported for the first time from Austria. It was recorded from coffins in the crypt of St. Michael’s church in the centre of Vienna. Extensive tunnelling of the larvae and surface damage by the adults caused disintegration of the historically significant wooden 18^th century coffins. Beetles were also detected in rotten cardboard on the loamy soil of the crypt. Infestation by this Cossonine weevil is promoted by the very damp conditions in the crypt, a consequence of the closure of ventilation funnels in the 1940s.     

Anatomical changes in the cell-wall structure of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit as caused by the decay fungi Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsuta

The structural changes in the cell wall and delignification pattern caused by Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsuta in the sap wood of Leucaena leucocephala were examined by light and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The in vitro decay test was conducted for 12 weeks. Both species of Trametes used in this study caused anatomical characteristics specific to simultaneous white rot. Formation of boreholes, erosion troughs, erosion channels with U-shaped notches in tangential sections and thinning of cell walls were evident in the wood inoculated with each of the fungal species. Cell separation due to removal of middle lamellae occurred at the early stages of infection (30 d) with T. versicolor. In contrast, middle lamellae remained intact in wood inoculated with T. hirsuta and showed cell separation due to degradation of the outer layer of the secondary wall and degradation of the middle lamellae observed only in severely decayed wood at late stages. Confocal microscopy revealed the delignification pattern particularly from cell corners and vessel walls at an advanced stage of decay, indicating strong ligninolytic activity of both species in the sapwood of L. leucocephala.