Laboratory tests for mould growth on wood products are time consuming and rely on visual assessments of specimens utilizing subjective rating systems. Accelerated laboratory methods are needed that can provide rapid, quantitative assessment of mould and sapstain growth on solid and composite wood products. Image analysis of scanned spore imprints from southern pine or oriented strandboard (OSB) specimens demonstrated improved sensitivity and provided quantitative values in a shorter time frame than manual (visual) assessment for southern pine but not for OSB. At the selected threshold of pixelation for this study, variability in growth rate of individual test fungi could be differentiated with image analysis. An exponential increase in Aspergillus niger sporulation occurred between 9 days (5%) and 21 days (54%) incubation. It was concluded that image analysis can be used for rapid quantitative estimations of mould and sapstain growth on southern pine.

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