Wood biodeterioration control potential of Acalypha hispida leaf phenolic extract in combination with Trichoderma viride culture filtrate

The phenolic extract of Acalypha leaves inhibited growth of Gloeophyllum sepiarium and Pleurotus sp. (test wood-rot fungi) in potato dextrose agar, starch agar, starch glucose agar, carboxyl methyl cellulose agar and carboxyl methyl cellulose glucose agar. Fungicidal or fungistatic concentration of the extract (10–14 mg/ml) depended on the medium. However a lower concentration of the extract (8–10 mg/ml) in combination with Trichoderma viride culture filtrate caused a similar inhibitory pattern. Degradation of obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon), mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) and walnut (Lovoa trichilioides) by the test fungi was limited or prevented by extract treatment of 8–10 mg/g wood. A similar inhibitory effect again occurred when a combination of T. viride filtrate and lower extract concentration (6–8 mg extract per gram of wood) was used. On-going wood decay was limited or halted by a combined treatment involving 8–12 mg extract per gram of wood depending on the fungal residence period. Treated stakes exposed to 6 months of tropical wet season retained resistance to fungal attack including soft rot. The phenolic extract of A. hispida may prove useful in an integrated chemical and biological approach to wood treatment.     

Tropical field assessment of combined Trichoderma viride Proteus sp. and urea protective treatment of wood against biodeterioration

Two previous reports showed that decay of wood blocks was inhibited by treatment with combined phosphate buffer (pH7) and Trichoderma viride or urea and ureolytic Proteus sp. A field assessment of the two treatment strategies was therefore carried out in the tropical rainforest for 24 months using the “grave yard method”. The groundline region of stakes treated with buffer/T. viride succumbed to biodegradation after 8 months as indicated by loss of resistance to compression, occurrence of basidiomycete and soft-rot cavities. This was attributed to leaching due to the heavy rainfall, soil microflora and the failure of T. viride to spread due to the dry season effect at the onset of the trials. No signs of degradation were evident until 18 months in stakes treated with urea and Proteus sp. The addition of T. viride to the urea/Proteus treatment system caused a marked improvement as no signs of biodegradation were observed throughout the duration of the field trial. As the concentration of ammonia declined, the hitherto suppressed T. viride began to spread and “fill in the gap”. It can be concluded that the triple combination of urea, Proteus sp. and T. viride, can significantly extend the service life of timber in the field.     

Assessment of the biocontrol potential of a Trichoderma viride isolate: Part I: Establishment of field and fungal cellar trials

A field trial has been set up to assess the biological control potential of a Trichoderma viride isolate, T60. This isolate had been shown in previous laboratory tests to be particularly effective against certain basidiomycete decay fungi. Wood was treated with T60 spores using vacuum pressure impregnation in a pilot preservation plant. Treated stakes were planted in the field site along with CCA-treated and untreated control samples. Replicate samples were also set up in an accelerated decay facility employed to give a comparison to the field trial results. This paper describes the setting up and monitoring of the field and fungal cellar trials, and presents results of moisture monitoring and sapstain assessment which indicate that Trichoderma viride isolate T60 has a marked effect on the rate of sapstain development under certain conditions. The paper also discusses the efficacy of pressure impregnation of spore suspensions for use as biological control agents     

Biological treatments for the control of decay in tree wounds.: Field tests

In an attempt to control fungi causing decay a range of micro-organisms, selected after laboratory tests, was inoculated into wounds made in the trunks of beech trees. The most successful micro-organism was an isolate of Trichoderma viride, which, over a period of 4 years, maintained significantly lower colonisation by decay fungi at both sites - c. 15% of the level found in uninoculated wounds. T. viride could be reisolated from the majority of wounds into which it had been inoculated up to 4 years later. No other antagonist persisted very effectively. Inoculation of T. viride in glycerol improved its establishment but malt extract and sucrose had no such effect. Both the addition of glycerol to wounds and the wrapping of them in black PVC sheet increased natural colonisation by T. viride. The use of PVC but not glycerol reduced numbers of decay fungi but not through the agency of T. viride present by natural infection, as this proved generally ineffective in the control of decay fungi. Another isolate of T. viride persisted considerably better when covered with a wound sealant.     

Antifungal effect of essential oils on southern yellow pine

Moisture management remains the most critical factor for controlling mold growth on wood and wood products during storage, construction, and while in service. When moisture management practices fail to adequately control moisture, plant extracts demonstrating antifungal properties may provide protection for these applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal properties of natural plant extracts, such as essential oils, for use on wood. Seven essential oils were evaluated for their ability to inhibit growth of Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, and Penicillium chrysogenum on southern yellow pine (SYP) stakes that were either dip treated or exposed to vapors of the test oils. Thyme and Egyptian geranium oil inhibited growth of all test fungi for 20 weeks. Likewise, dill weed oil vapors inhibited all test fungi for at least 20 weeks. Comparison of two mold test apparatuses—Petri dish test and tank test chambers—gave similar results for thyme oil. These findings support the application of essential oils for surface treatment or vapor exposure of wood to prevent mold infestation.     

Biological transformation of thiourea

Summary Six strains of fungi: two Aspergilli of the A. glaucus group, Penicillium sp. Trichoderma viride, and two unidentified dark fungi, were found able to use thiourea as a source of nitrogen. One of the Aspergilli and the Penicillium showed the best utilization, but the growth was always slow, and no more than 50% (usually much less) of the thiourea-nitrogen was recovered in the mycelium.Assimilation of thiourea-nitrogen by Aspergillus and Penicillium was accompanied by oxidation of the sulphur to sulphate in roughly approximate stoichiometric proportion. The same fungi were able to produce sulphate from cystine as combined source of nitrogen and sulphur.     

Availability of phosphorus in a calcareous soil treated with rock phosphate or superphosphate as affected by phosphate-dissolving fungi

A study was undertaken to isolate some fungi exhibiting phosphate-dissolution ability, and to test whether these fungi are capable of increasing the amount of available P in a calcareous soil treated with rock phosphate (RP) or with triple superphosphate (TSP) and its subsequent uptake by sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench).Penicillium sp. and twoAspergillus foetidus (Naka) isolates significantly increased the availability of P in soil treated with RP or TSP during the growing season.Penicillium sp. isolate was more effective in increasing available P in the soil treated with RP or TSP than were Aspergillus isolates. However, the dry matter and P uptake responses to inoculation with these fungi were better in the soil treated with RP than in soil treated with TSP. In the TSP treated soil, the fungi achieved their maximum P releasing capacity two weeks earlier than in soil treated with RP. Positive and significant correlation coefficients among available P, P uptake and dry matter production at different periods of the growing season were observed following inoculation. However, none of these variables were found to be significantly correlated with the fungal populations.     

Lignin biodegradation and ligninolytic enzyme studies during biopulping of Acacia mangium wood chips by tropical white rot fungi

White rot fungi are good lignin degraders and have the potential to be used in industry. In the present work, Phellinus sp., Daedalea sp., Trametes versicolor and Pycnoporus coccineus were selected due to their relatively high ligninolytic enzyme activity, and grown on Acacia mangium wood chips under solid state fermentation. Results obtained showed that manganese peroxidase produced is far more compared to lignin peroxidase, suggesting that MnP might be the predominating enzymes causing lignin degradation in Acacia mangium wood chips. Cellulase enzyme assays showed that no significant cellulase activity was detected in the enzyme preparation of T. versicolor and Phellinus sp. This low cellulolytic activity further suggests that these two white rot strains are of more interest in lignin degradation. The results on lignin losses showed 20–30% of lignin breakdown at 60 days of biodegradation. The highest lignin loss was found in Acacia mangium biotreated with T. versicolor after 60 days and recorded 26.9%, corresponding to the percentage of their wood weight loss recorded followed by P. coccineus. In general, lignin degradation was only significant from 20 days onwards. The overall percentage of lignin weight loss was within the range of 1.02–26.90% over the biodegradation periods. Microscopic observations conducted using scanning electron microscope showed that T. versicolor, P. coccineus, Daedalea sp. and Phellinus sp. had caused lignin degradation in Acacia mangium wood chips.     

Further studies on Egyptian soil fungi: Succession of sugar and osmophilic fungi in soil amended with five organic substrates

The sugar and osmophilic fungal composition of soils amended with five organic substrates (newspaper, orange peel, bromegrass leaves, wheat straw and wood sawdust) was estimated after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks using the dilution plate method on glucose and 50% sucrose Czapek's agar media. Wheat straw was the best substrate for total counts of both sugar and osmophilic fungi followed by newspaper, bromegrass leaves, wood sawdust and orange peel. Wood sawdust supported the highest average counts of total sugar fungi, Fusarium, Mucor, Scopulariopsis, Trichoderma and Trimmatostroma spp.; Newspaper, of Aspergillus (8 spp.), Penicillium (4 spp.) and Chaetomium sp. bromegrass leaves of Cladosporium sp., Humicola sp. and Sporotrichum sp.; orange peel, ofAlternaria sp., Circinella sp. and Stachybotrys sp.; and wheat straw, of Botryotrichum sp. and Myrothecium sp. Bromegrass leaves and orange peel supported the highest average counts of total osmophilic fungi, Aspergillus (10 spp.), Cladosporium sp. Paecillomyces sp. and Rhizopus sp.; and of Stemphylium sp., Trichoderma sp., Humicola sp. and Circinella sp. respectively; wheat straw, of Epicoccum sp., Scopulariopsis sp. and Trichothecium sp.; newspaper, of Penicillium (4 spp.) and Alternaria sp.; and wood sawdust of Curvularia sp. and Fusarium (3 spp.). The best colonizers throughout the experimental periods were Aspergilus and Penicillium spp.     

Biodeterioration of brazilwood Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Leguminosae—Caesalpinioideae) by rot fungi and termites

The heartwood of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Leguminosae) (commonly called brazilwood) is used for violin bow manufacture due to the unique vibrational and physical properties found in the wood. In the present work, the effects of Pycnoporus sanguineus (white-rot fungus), Gloeophyllum trabeum (brown-rot fungus), Chaetomium globosum (soft-rot fungus), and Cryptotermes brevis (dry-wood termite) on weight losses and chemical composition of extractives and cell-wall polysaccharides of C. echinata wood were investigated under laboratory conditions and compared to those obtained for Anadenanthera macrocarpa, Eucalyptus grandis, and Pinus elliottii. The heartwood of C. echinata was found to be as resistant as A. macrocarpa to the decay fungi tested and to the attack of the dry-wood termite. Pinitol and galactopinitol A were the main sugar alcohols found in the extractives of wood of C. echinata, their presence, however, did not appear related to the resistance to fungal decay. Although only incipient stages of decay were found, the modifications in cell-wall polysaccharide composition of heartwood of C. echinata by rot fungi were related to decrease in polymers other than xylans. The high resistance of C. echinata to xylophages is probably due to the presence of toxic extractives in the wood.     

Studies on some fungi isolated from the rhizosphere of tomato plants and the consequent prospect for the control of Verticillium wilt

Summary Biological control of Verticillium wilt disease with antagonistic micro-organisms was studied. Antagonism of some fungi, isolated from tomato rhizosphere, toVerticillium albo-atrum R & B. was observedin vitro. A clearly defined zone, in which the growth of the pathogen was inhibited, was observed withPenicillium spp. (includingPenicillium chrysogenum Thom) andFusarium culmorum (S.G. Sm) Sacc., whileTrichoderma viride pers. ex Fries,Gliocladium spp. andPenicillium vermiculatum Dangeard, suppressed the growth ofV. albo-atrum by penetrating, and overgrowing it. OnlyT. viride andP. vermiculatum culture filtrate added to the Dox's agar, reduced the radial growth ofV. alboatrum. Root-dip application of culture filtrates ofT. viride andP. chrysogenum was found to be most effective in controlling the disease, followed by other species ofPenicillium andGliocladium spp. WhileFusarium culmorum provided no control. Improvement of plant height and vigour with a better yield due to culture filtrate treatment occurred. Root-dip application of antagonistic fungal propagules (T. viride, P. chrysogenum) to tomato seedlings was also very effective in controlling wilt in tomato plants grown inV. albo-atrum infested soil. Dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. Ivor Isaac with whom I had the pleasure of working     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma viride mediated Fusarium wilt control in tomato

The biocontrol potential of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Funneliformis mosseae and Acaulospora laevis) and Trichoderma viride was assessed against tomato wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. lycopersici under pot condition. All the bioagent showed appreciable results in increasing plant growth. Combined inoculation of F. mosseae, A. laevis and T. viride showed maximum increases in plant height, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, number of leaves and number of branches per plant while dual inoculation of F. mosseae and T. viride increased rest of the growth parameters like shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root length and leaf area. AM colonisation and spore number was found highest in single inoculation of AMF, which decreases with the addition of T. viride. But, this decrease has no effect on biocontrol efficiency of bioagents. Photosynthesis, chlorophyll content and nutrient content were markedly decreased by pathogen infection. Bioagent application overcomes this effect and a remarkable increase in the plant phosphorus and nitrogen content was recorded. Among both the AMF, F. mosseae proved to be more effective strain compared to A. laevis for tomato. Maximum reduction in disease incidence and severity was recorded in combined inoculation of F. mosseae, A. laevis and T. viride. Whereas control plants without any bioagent showed maximum occurrence of disease. The findings of this study concludes that soil inoculation with F. mosseae along with root inoculation with conidial suspension of T. viride before transplantation offered better survival and resistance to tomato seedlings against Fusarium wilt.     

Effect of crude mansonia (Mansonia altisima) timber extracts on biodeterioration of obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon) timber by three wood-rotting fungi

Methanol and ethanol extracts of mansonia wood inhibited the growth of three wood-rotting fungi, Pleurotus ostreatus, Gloeophyllum sepiarium and Gloeophyllum sp. An aqueous extract only inhibited the growth of P. ostreatus. Extracted obeche wood impregnated with ethanol extracts of mansonia showed significant improvement in decay resistance. Impregnation with methanol extracts only significantly retarded decay by P. ostreatus and the aqueous extracts did not increase obeche wood resistance to any of the test fungi.     

Assessment of fungal diversity and deterioration in a wooden structure at New Harbor, Antarctica

Scientists working at New Harbor, Antarctica in November 1959 used a wooden crate as a makeshift workspace and kitchen. The structure has been used intermittently over the subsequent decades and still remains at the site with various materials left in and around it. The wooden structure was assessed for deterioration and samples collected to determine the diversity of fungi at the site after 43 years in the Antarctic environment. Results from these investigations are compared to the results from research on the historic huts of Ross Island, approximately 70 km east of New Harbor that were built 48–58 years earlier. Our analysis shows the wood of the New Harbor structure is extremely weathered and soft rot decay was detected in the wood in contact with the ground. Fungal cultures isolated from wood of the structure were identified using sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA. Several species of Cadophora were identified including C. malorum, C. luteo-olivacea, C. fastigiata and a previously undescribed species designated C. sp. NH. Laboratory decay experiments using two Cadophora species isolated from New Harbor demonstrated extensive decay and loss of biomass in hardwood wafers after 16 weeks. Other fungi isolated from the wood included species of Cladosporium, Hormonema, Penicillium and Lecythophora. Wind erosion has also severely affected the structure’s exterior wood causing deep furrowing between earlywood and latewood cells. In general, the deterioration and fungi found at the site were similar to those found at the historic expedition huts on Ross Island, however, one species obtained is unique to the New Harbor site. This research expands our knowledge of the microbes colonizing wood brought into the polar environment and provides additional information on deterioration and decomposition processes occurring in Antarctica.     

Further Observations on Fungi Inhabiting Pine Stumps

Growth-rates, both on malt agar and in stump wood, of earlystump colonizers such as Fomes annosus, Pemophora gigantea,Stereum sanguinolentum, and Leptographium lundbergii are higherthan those of later-colonizing agarics. The initial invasionof stump roots usually proceeds via the stump body by fungiwhich infect the cut surface. Although stumps may dry out appreciably shortly after felling,in later stages of decay the moisture content of the wood oftenincreases considerably. Stump decomposition is associated witha succession of decay fungi, the ‘Peniophora’, ‘Hypholoma’,and ‘Tricholoma’ stages being distinguished. Severalphycomycetes and fungi imperfecti colonize decayed, but notfresh, stump wood. P. gigantea is shown to be a vigorous competitor of F. annosusfor initial colonization of stumps: it may also replace F.annosus in stumps. Gliocladium viride and Trichoderma viridecompete with wood-rotting basidiomycetes and sometimes replacethem in very decayed wood.     

Seasonal and leaf age-dependent changes in occurrence of phyllosphere fungi of giant dogwood

To examine the relative importance of leaf age and season on the occurrence of phyllosphere fungi, temporal patterns of epiphytic and endophytic phyllosphere fungi of giant dogwood (Swida controversa) were studied with reference to leaf emergence at first occurrence and in the middle of the growing season. A total of 15 and 44 species were isolated from the surface and interior of leaves, respectively. On the leaf surface, detection rate of fungi was consistently 100% and their frequencies increased during the growing season, whereas in the leaf interior, detection rate of fungi and their frequencies were low at leaf emergence and gradually increased during the growing season. Six epiphytic and two endophytic fungi were observed frequently. A white sterile mycelium was frequent only on the surface of newly emerged leaves in the first-order shoot in May. The other 7 species increased during the growing season. The frequencies of Phomopsis sp., Pestalotiopsis sp. 1, and Trichoderma viride were higher on the leaves of first-order shoots than those of higher-order shoots that emerged between July and September, suggesting the possible effects of leaf age on their occurrence. On the other hand, the frequencies of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Clonostachys rosea, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Phoma sp. 1 were not different between the first- and higher-order shoots, suggesting the negligible effect of leaf age. The influence of phenological patterns of leaf emergence of deciduous trees on the diversity and composition of assemblages of phyllosphere fungi is discussed.     

Biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma spp. against sesame wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. sesami

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops in Egypt and worldwide. It is being infected with many pathogens, among these pathogens Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. sesami (Zap.) Cast is causing severe economic losses on sesame. In this study, antagonistic capability of 24 isolates of Trichoderma spp. was assessed in vitro against F. oxysporum f.sp. sesami. Two strains; T. harzianum (T9) and T. viride (T21) were revealed to have high antagonistic effect against F. oxysporum f.sp. sesami in vitro with inhibition percentage about 70 and 67%, respectively. These two isolates proved to have high ability to control Fusarium wilt disease under greenhouse conditions. The highest reduction in disease severity was achieved with T. viride followed by T. harzianum with reduction in disease severity about 77 and 74%, respectively. This study revealed that the time of application of bioagents is a decisive factor in determining the efficacy of Trichoderma isolates to control Fusarium wilt of sesame. It was revealed that the highest reduction in the disease severity was achieved when either Trichoderma viride or T. harzianum were applied 7 days before challenging with the F. oxysporum f.sp. sesami.     

绿色木霉对生物降解和生物防治的影响机理与应用研究进展

绿色木霉(Trichoderma viride)是一种广泛分布于自然界的有益微生物,具有高效生物降解和生物防治功能。研究表明,绿色木霉在代谢过程中会产生纤维素酶、几丁质酶、木质素过氧化物酶等一系列水解酶类,能够高效降解环境中的有机物质,同时,作为农业上常见的生防菌,具有抑制病原菌、促进植物生长、提高土壤肥力等有益功能。基于此,围绕绿色木霉生物功能最新研究进展,从绿色木霉生物降解和生物防治角度,探究绿色木霉实际应用和作用机理,以期为充分利用绿色木霉资源提供依据,并对本领域未来的发展方向和应用前景进行展望。     

Potential for Biocontrol of Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griff. & Maubl. in Banana Fruits by Trichoderma Species

Fifteen Trichoderma isolates were tested for their antagonistic ability against Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Trichoderma harzianum exhibited the greatest inhibition in dual culture. Microscopic investigation demonstrated direct parasitism and coiling of T. harzianum and T. viride around hyphae of L. theobromae, causing swollen, deformed, shortened, or rounded cells of the pathogen. Granulation of cytoplasm and disintegration of the hyphal walls of L. theobromae also were noted in dual culture. Trichoderma viride reduced rotting by 29.07 to 65.06% in artificially inoculated banana fruits. Treatment of banana fruits with T. viride 4 h prior to inoculation with L. theobromae provided better protection than simultaneous application or treatment 4 h after inoculation.     

Effect of water activity and relative air humidity on the growth of Penicillium chrysogenum thom, Aspergillus repens (Corda) Sacc., and Trichoderma viride Pers. isolated from living spaces

Original data on the growth parameters of the fungi Penicillium chrysogenum Thom, Aspergillus repens (Corda) Sacc., and Trichoderma viride Pers. isolated from living spaces in Moscow are presented. Spore germination, fungal growth, and the radial growth rate of the colonies were investigated upon cultivation on agarized nutrient media with different water activity (a_w) values. Spore germination and fungal growth were studied in house dust under laboratory conditions at different relative air humidity (RH). It was shown that, at decreased a_w and RH, the spore germination time increased, as did the period from germination to mycelium and conidia formation, while the radial growth rate of colonies decreased. House dust was found to be a suitable growth substrate for A. repens and P. chrysogenum, supporting their complete life cycle. It was suggested that house dust is unsuitable as a substrate for the growth of T. viride. The a_w and RH ranges for development of these micromycetes were determined. On this basis, the A. repens, P. chrysogenum, and T. viride strains isolated from living spaces were identified as xerophilic, xerotolerant, and hygrophilic ones, respectively.