DECAY POTENTIAL OF BASIDIOMYCETE FUNGI FROM PINUS RADIATA

To study fungi causing decay of Pinus radiata in New Zealand, basidiomycetes were obtained from P. radiata wood, fruiting bodies on P. radiata and culture collections. Thirty-eight fungi were screened for decay potential using a wood block assay and a cellulase assay to identify those suitable for further study. Twenty isolates caused significant wood weight losses relative to uninoculated controls. Thirteen brown rot fungi produced the greatest weight losses (7.7-27.1%). Cellulolytic activity was exhibited by all fungi but was highest for six white rot fungi (0.18-0.35 µmoles glucose/min/ml). There was no correlation between wood weight loss and cellulolytic activity for the test fungi under these assay conditions.