Fungal colonization of CCA-treated decking

IRG/WP 03-10491

S Choi, J N R Ruddick, P I Morris

The identification of fungi isolated from CCA treated decking in Vancouver is reported. About two thousands locations were sampled from over sixty boards recovered from six decks. Wood chips from each location were placed onto four different types of media. Of the large number of isolates obtained, around 15% were obtained from the interior of the boards. The succession of colonization in CCA-treated decking; i.e. bacteria, mould, staining fungi, (soft-rot fungi), and basidiomycetes, was similar to that reported from untreated wood exposed above ground and from CCA treated wood in ground contact. The percent frequency of isolation around checks was higher than that from wood just below the treated surface. In the case of boards where decayed wood was observed during sampling, most decay was associated with checks. In this study, Gloeophyllum sepiarium and Gloeophyllum trabeum (tentatively identified) were the only decay basidiomycetes isolated from the inner wood of decayed decking. Other unidentified basidiomycetes were isolated from the treated surface of the boards, the check surfaces or the cut end of decking from both decayed and non-decayed boards.


Keywords: CCA-treated decking, fungal colonization, Gloeophylllum sepiarium, check

Conference: 03-05-18/23 Brisbane, Australia


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