Fungal sapstain does not reduce the strength of wood, but it does discolor the wood, detracting from its appearance and decreasing the value of wood and wood products. The purpose of this investigation was to assess whether wood sapstain caused by Ceratocystis coerulescens could be destained and existing growth eradicated. The hydroxyl radicals generation under optimized conditions destained the sapstain on southern yellow pine veener disks caused by Ceratocystis coerulescens and killed the existing growth of sapstain fungi. Results indicate that the sapstain, melaninlike pigments of hyphae in pine disks, was destained and the existing growth of Ceratocystis coerulescens (Munch) Bakeshi [C-262] eliminated. As a result, sapstained wood and wood products with sapstain fungi can be salvaged, thus expanding our supply of usable wood.

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