Bioincising impact of Pysisporinus vitreus and Xylaria longipes fungi on radial air permeability and moisture diffusion coefficient of spruce wood (Picea abies)

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Prof, Department of Wood and Paper Science and Technology Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran

Abstract

In this research, the bioinsising impact of two wood decay fungi (Pysisporinus vitreus and Xylaria longipes) on radial air permeability and moisture diffusion coefficient of spruce wood (Picea abies) was investigated. Fungal cultivation was performed in an incubator at 25 °C and 85% relative humidity for 15, 30 and 45 days. Results showed that the permeability, moisture diffusion and mass loss were increased by increasing the incubation time about both fungi but compression strength was decreased. Maximum mass loss was observed for 30 and 45 days treatments of Pysisporinus vitreus fungus. The increased air permeability and moisture diffusion are probably due to degradation of bordered pits of tracheid cell walls by Pysisporinus vitreus and formation of several holes on tracheid cell by Xylaria longipes. The results of this research showed that 30 days incubation for both fungi was an optimum and best incubation time for increasing the radial air permeability and moisture diffusion in spruce (Picea abies) wood.

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