One main objective of wood modification processes is the improvement of the durability against wood destroying organisms. Therefore, investigations of the resistance against wood destroying fungi have been one of the main focus within the last years. For the interpretation of the durability results, the selection of suitable test fungi is one of the main questions. A “wrong” fungus species may cause no attack whilst the same wood specimen would have been heavily attacked by another test fungus. Durability tests which were carried out at the University of Göttingen during the last years were evaluated concerning the activity of different fungi against modified wood. The results have shown that R. placenta and T. versicolor are relevant test fungi in general. Thereby R. placenta caused high mass losses also for hardwood species as well as T. versicolor caused high mass losses also for softwood species. Furthermore C. puteana caused high mass losses at DMDHEU treated wood and might be selected for modified wood. In general, it would be preferable to adapt the existing standards concerning the selection of relevant test fungi for modified wood.

Download document (330 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document