COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MICROMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN WOOD DUE TO SOFT-ROT FUNGI AND SURFACE MOLD

The current study aims to elucidate and compare ultrastructure alterations that occurred in larch wood (Larix decidua Mill.) and beech wood (Fagus sylvatica) which were artificially infested with the selected fungi; Aspergillus niger, Pencillium chrysogenum, Chaetomium globosum, (soft-rot fungi) Trichoderma viride and Alternaria alternata (surface mold). Environmental scanning electron microscope were utilized to examine the wood samples which were left three years. Microscopic examination showed differences in the patterns and mechanism of decay in the two wood species and cell types invaded by the selected fungi. A. nigar and P. chrysogenum can cause wood degradation more aggressively than C. globosum. Surface mold fungi, e.g. T. viride and A. alternata may cause alterations in wood ultrastructurally like soft-rot fungi. The results of this study encourage adding stain fungi and surface mold to wood destroying fungi classification, also recommending examination their enzymatic system