On the Effect of Blue Staining Fungi on the Permeability of Sitka Spruce

Abstract

Some aspects of the ecology and physiology of blue-staining and mould fungi were investigated with particular reference to their wood permeability enhancing mechanisms. Of the thirty three species tested, all were “geen to be considerably amylolytic, but many species did not exhibit:a similar intensity of cellulolytic or pectinolytic activity. Some species were seen to possess both active cellulase and pectinase systems, though the greater number of test species were seen to possess active cellulase systems only, under the test conditions. The growth rates of the individual fungal species was seen to considerably influence their production of enzymes. Faster-growing species apparently produced greater quantities of enzymes then slower-growing species, and they similarly produced a more extensive degradation. However, the intensity of degradation produced by the slower-growing species, relative to that produced by the faster-growing species, was considered to be highly significant. It was hypothesised that many of the bluestaining and mould fungi tested were primarily amylolytic but possessed secondary cellulase or pectinase systems. It was considered, however, that the interrelationships between the amylase, cellulase and pectinase systems of these species would require further more detailed investigation. It was suggested that the celluloytic or pectinolytic activities of many of the species tested may would considerably influence their ability to enhance the permeability of wood.