Forming of a functional biofilm on wood surfaces

The protecting and staining properties of biofilms grown on oil-treated surfaces of Pinus sylvestris L. sapwood were investigated with respect to their potential to create homogeneous coloured surfaces. Linseed oil pressure-treated blocks of P. sylvestris L. were evaluated after 36 months of outdoor exposure. The biofilm was characterized by colony counts and PCR cloning, the interactions with wood were assessed microscopically. The results show that a biofilm consisting of Aureobasidium pullulans has the potential to create protecting and staining functions on a wood surface. The conditions and factors which lead to a selective growth of A. pullulans are discussed with respect to the practical application of the formed biofilm in the field of environmental and civil engineering. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.