Attached
Wood is one of the most important raw materials in the world. Wood as any naturally
produced organic material may be subject to decay or fungal stains.
One key to the satisfactory use of forest products as building materials is an understanding of
the agents and conditions that can lead to decay or other forms of deterioration.
Wood inhabiting fungi drew attention to themselves because of their effect on the lucrative
timber market. Most decay fungi belong to the botanical class Basidiomycetes. A few are
Ascomycets. Several hundred species of fungi may decay wood products. Their scientific
study therefore is of great importance.
Since large number of wood inhabiting fungi are present in natural habitats this study was
confined to the lignicolous agarics found in wood species in natural habitats.
Wood decaying agarics were studied in their natural habitats during the period of one year
from August 2003 to August 2004. The agarics were collected from both building timber and
naturally infected decaying wood from the University premises, home gardens, building
sites, saw mills, log yards and timber stores, and their habitats and macroscopic features
were studied. They were collected in the proper way and suitably prepared for transport and
short-term storage - A spore print was made on black-white paper.
The macroscopic and microscopic examination followed, together with the documentation
and photographs. The identification of the agarics was undertaken by using reliable keys,
illustrations and suitable descriptions.
Wood decaying agarics were identified as, Armillaria mel/ea, Contharel/us spp, Coprinus
macropus, Caprinus pallid us, Favolaschia thwaitessi, Favolus ciliuns, Marasmius caryotae,
Marasmius umbraculum, Mycena grisea, Pleurotus flabellatus, Pleurotus reticulatus,
Lentinus giganteus, Lentinus lcomtie, Lentinus sajor-caju, Schizophyllum commune, and
Volvariella volvacea.
Lentinus spp were found as brown rot fungi while Armillaria mellea and Pleurotus spp
found as white rot fungi. Schizophyllum commune was found on a large number of wood species followed by genus
Lentinus. The appearance of mushroom fruiting bodies coincided with the rain. Fruiting
bodies of Pleurotus reticulates, Coprinus macropus appeared during rainy seasons while
Schizophyllum commune was found throughout the year. In Coprinus macropus and
Marasmius caryotae fruiting bodies lasted only one day while Schizophyllum commune
lasted for weeks. Most of the wood inhabiting agarics appeared as clumps and solitary
specimens were very rare.
Coprinus spp and Marasmius spp were found on very old rotting logs and stumps while
Schizophyllum commune, Lentinus spp and Cantharellus spp found on intermediately
decayed tree trunk, stumps and building timber.
Schizophyllum commune was found on outer barks as well as sapwood and heartwood
regions of logs and building timber. They appeared throughout the year and fruiting bodies
were fresh under moist conditions, dry and leathery in dry seasons. Schizophyllum commune
was able to attack a wide range of hardwood and softwood species
In the university premises and home gardens, most of the agarics found on stumps, fallen
logs and tree trunks of various wood species which were kept in open ar~as for a long time,
in contact with the ground and exposed to the sun and rain regularly. In timber stores fungal
attack was very rare and attack was mainly on the outer bark or sapwood region of Rubber
and Mango wood while saw mills and log yards fungi attack was found on many logs which
were kept out doors for a long time.
Chloroxylon swietenia, Vi/ex altisstma, Manilkara hexandra etc. could be categorized as
durable timber species while Swietenia macrophylla, Artocarpus heterophyllus and
Pericopsis mooniana categorized as a moderately durable timber. Hevea brasiliensis,
Mangifera indica were categorized as susceptible timber species. Hence it is recommended
to use preservative treatment for the effective utilization of these perishable timber species.
Results suggested that most of the wood examined were attacked by agarics when they were
exposed to adverse environmental conditions for a long time.
