The identification and preservative tolerance of species aggregates of Trichoderma isolated from freshly felled timber

IRG/WP 92-1553

R J Wallace, R A Eaton, M A Carter, G R Williams

The surface disfigurement of antisapstain treated timber by preservative-tolerant fungi remains a major problem in stored timber. Identification of a range of isolates of Trichoderma based on microscopic morphological characteristics was found to be imprecise due to the variable nature of this organism. In addition, studies to compare visual (morphological) characteristics of these isolates with their tolerance to the antisapstain compound methylene-bis-thiocyanate (MBT) using minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) tests showed no clear correlations. Isoenzyme electrophoresis was used to investigate the taxonomic relationships between species aggregates of Trichoderma isolated from antisapstain field trials and to identify physiological differences between 30 isolates of Trichoderma which show tolerance to MBT at concentrations ranging from less than 4 ppm to 34 ppm. Results indicate that there is considerable variability in the preservative tolerance of different Trichoderma isolates from particular locality. This highlights the need for field testing of an antisapstain compound in the same locality and under the same conditions in which it will be used in practice.


Keywords: ANTI-SAPSTAIN TREATMENTS; GEL ELECTROPHORESIS; TAXONOMY; IDENTIFICATION; ISOLATES; BIOCIDE TOLERANCE; TRICHODERMA

Conference: 92-05-10/15 Harrogate, England, UK


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