The decay pattern caused by Schizophyllum commune in pine latewood tracheids was studied using both light and transmission electron microscopy. The attack began as isolated concentric slits within the S2 layer with extensive lamellation and separation of individual wall layers observed in subsequent stages of decay. The slits resulting from attack appeared to be formed in thin, regular concentric layers as observed in sound tracheids. This form of attack indicates that the S2 layer is not homogeneous with respect to chemical composition. As the degradation of the S2 layer was caused by hyphae growing within the tracheid lumina, this suggests that diffusion of degrading agents must have occurred through the wall layers.

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