Most of the packing case, plywood and match industries distributed throughout Kerala State, India utilise different timber species. The major problem in the utilisation of these species is their susceptibility to fungal sapstain and mould growth due to the conducive climatic conditions in the State. Several wood-based industries were surveyed and based on the economic importance and extent of sapstain damage, eight soft wood species were selected for the study. The results of the survey indicated that there was no definite pattern in the occurrence of mould and sapstain in different timber species collected from various wood industries in the State. Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma viride were the dominant surface moulds growing on all timbers. Among the various timbers surveyed, Hevea brasiliensis, Mangifera indica and Alstonia scholaris had severe surface growth of different mould fungi. Memnoniella echinata was observed more commonly on H. brasiliensis than other timbers. Botryodiplodia theobromae was the dominant sapstain fungus causing bluish-black stain on surface as well as inside the wood. Ceratocystis fimbriata caused stain in Bombax ceiba, H. brasiliensis and M. indica; but heavy infection was found only on H. brasiliensis. The results of the survey also indicated that all the timber species were found to be susceptible to sapstain by B. theobromae; however, H. brasiliensis was most severely and frequently affected.

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