| Abstract: | The protection of wood from fungal stain using biological agents has considerable potential for reducing discoloration of freshly sawn logs and lumber, while decreasing fungicide use. A number of biocontrol candidates have been reported worldwide, and Gliocladium roseum is one of such microorganisms. In this study, the bio-activity of G. roseum was investigated against different wood-degrading fungi on agar plates and wafers of 12 major Canadian wood species. Of the four sap-staining fungi tested on agar plates, Ophiostoma piceae and Alternaria alternata showed greater sensitivity than Aureobasidium pullulans or Cladosporium sphaerospermum to G. roseum . On wood wafers, a spore suspension of G. roseum (1 10 6 spores/ ml) provided satisfactory protection of wood from stain on western hemlock ( Tsuga heterophylla ), white spruce ( Picea glauca ), amabilis fir ( Abies amabilis ), balsam fir ( Abies balsamea ) and jack pine ( Pinus banksiana ). The antagonist also restricted the development of moulds and stain on black spruce ( Picea mariana ), lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta ) and white pine ( Pinus strobus ), but did not protect Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ), red pine ( Pinus resinosa ), white birch ( Betula papyrifera ) and trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides ). Logs of black spruce and jack pine treated with G. roseum were much less stained than untreated ones after a 4-month period of summer storage in the field. In an anti-decay test, no significant difference was found for weight loss between wood blocks treated with G. roseum and untreated samples. Application of G. roseum with low levels of an anti-sap stain chemical (NP-1) to wood wafers simultaneously did not produce a noticeable improvement in wood protection against stain compared with the chemical treatment alone. |
