The potential for using fungal derived pigments as surface treatments for limiting photodegradation of wood was investigated. Extracts from Chlorociboria aeruginosa and Scytalidium cuboideum were compared with a traditional aniline dye and chromic acid treatment. Hybrid poplar sapwood samples treated with these solutions were exposed to 86.4 kj/m2 of UV radiation and assessed for lignin degradation using FTIR attenuated total reflectance analysis. Both the fungal dyes and the aniline dye failed to protect lignin from photodegradation compared with control samples, while the chromic acid provided some protection. Assessment of indicator peaks for the dyes, however, revealed that some dye components were UV resistant. Although the dyes did not prevent UV degradation of the wood, they may be able to mask the color changing effects of weathering by remaining stable after UV exposure.

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