A polyclonal antibody was raised against mycelial extracts from the soft rot fungus Phialophora mutabilis. In ELISA assays, the antibody showed strong reactions with its own antigen and strong to moderate cross reactions with 6 other Phialophora soft rot species. With the exception of Ceratocystis albida, the antibody gave only weak or negative reactions with 11 other mold, blue stain and rot fungi chosen for their frequent occurrence on treated wood.The antibody also showed a high cross reactivity with extracellular filtrates from Phialophora mutabilis and was able to detect filtrates containing ca 40 ng/ml-l of protein. TEM-immunogold labelling of wood degraded by Phialophora mutabilis showed specific localization of the antibody on the fungal cell wall and certain intracellular structures. Extracellular labelling within soft rot cavities and sites of erosion decay were also noted. The antibody was assessed in ELISA assays for detecting the presence of the fungus and soft rot in untreated and preservative treated wood blocks of pine and birch degraded for periods ranging from 1-12 months. Phialophora mutabilis was detected in samples from all wood blocks at low or high weight losses. Highest ELISA readings were recorded for wood blocks with highest substrate losses.

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