The heterogeneous group of "Poria" fungi causing brown rot in buildings and also of wood in ground contact comprises Antrodia vaillantii, Antrodia serialis, Antrodia sinuosa, Antrodia xantha and Tyromyces placenta. These fungi have similar morphological appearance and biology. Their nomenclature has a confusing history and is still not uniform. As a consequence, misinterpretations may occur. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a species-specific protein pattern for different cultures of Antrodia vaillantii separating the species from the other pore fungi as well as from Coniophora puteana and Serpula lacrymans. Electrophoresis also detected misidentifications. Investigations on growth rate, response to temperature, copper tolerance and wood decay revealed: Radial growth extension reached from 4 to 9 mm/d. Temperature optimum was 25 to 31°C. All withstood 1 hour at 60°C and some even 3 h at 65°C. Antrodia vaillantii was copper tolerant up to 0.05 M Cu. Wood weight loss after 20 weeks was higher by Tyromyces placenta (35%) and Antrodia sinuosa (33%) than by Antrodia xantha (21%), Antrodia serialis (16%) and Antrodia vaillantii (14%). Dual cultures revealed various inter- and intraspecific interactions and detected identity of differently coded cultures of a species. The former Poria vaporaria sensu Liese 'Normstamm II' for testing wood preservatives and the recent Poria placenta EN 113 strain FPRL 280 were shown to be either identical or at least sister monokaryons originating from the same individual.

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