The antifungal mechanism of konjac flying powder extract and its active compounds against wood decay fungi

Abstract Wood products are vulnerable to fungal degradation that reduces service life. Traditional wood preservatives can provide excellent service life but efforts are underway to develop more natural methods for wood protection. Konjac flying powder is a residual waste produced during the processing of corms of Konjac (Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch) to produce Konjac flour. This waste material contains a number of compounds including salicylic acid (SA), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), vanillin (VL), and cinnamaldehyde (CMA) has been found to be active against decay fungi; however, the antifungal mode of action is uncertain. The effects of konjac flying powder extract (KFPE) and its active compounds on cellulase, hemicellulose and ligninase activity, respiratory metabolism, cell membrane permeability, protein, and energy metabolism was studied on the white-rot fungus, Trametes versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Quel. (T. versicolor) and brown-rot fungus, Gloeophyllum trabeum (Pers.: Fr.) Murr. (G. trabeum). Konjac flying powder inhibited cellulase and hemicellulase activity of both fungi and ligninase activity of T. versicolor. Respiratory metabolism and energy metabolism were also inhibited. The four active compounds had different effects on activities suggesting that konjac flying powder functioned against multiple metabolic activities of the test fungi, potentially increasing its ability to provide broad spectrum wood protection.