Changes of hardness of sessile oak wood: Quercus petreae agg. under the impact of fungus Conidiophora puteana (Shum. ex FR) Karst., the causer of Brown rot

It have been investigated the impact of the brown rott fungi Coniophora puteana (Schumm. ex Fr) Karst., in decrease of hardness of Q. petraea agg. The wood samples for the research (2 x 2 x 4 cm) have been exposed to the impact of the mycelia in plastic boxes. The hardness after 2, 4 and 6 months decreased in comparison with initial ones (100%) and reached 92,28%, 84,33% and 34,13%. By using correlation analyses of Q. petraea agg. of hardness decrease (σs – dependent variable) in relation to the incubation period of time (T – independent variable) strong correlation between variables was established, and regression equation was: Hb = 86,925 – 8,2325 x T.