Morpho-cultural identification of wood-damaging fungi in the historic baker memorial hall at the University of the Philippines Los Baños

Abstract

© 2019, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Banos. All rights reserved. Deterioration in heritage wood structures caused by wood-decay fungi is a worldwide concern. In the University of the Philippines Los Baños, decay fungi from wooden canopies of the Baker Memorial Hall were identified and their degrading ability was evaluated. Specimen collection was conducted on degraded canopies made of Mayapis (Shorea palosapis) with signs of white or green fungal growth. Fungi associated with the rotting symptoms were isolated, purified, characterized and identified. Colonies of fungal isolates were fast-growing in malt extract agar (MEA), with colony diameter reaching 5.60 ± 0.43 cm (WRF8) and 5.15 ± 0.25 cm (WRF5) after a day. Mycelia of isolates were hyaline and rhizoidal on water agar. Isolate WRF5 produced green, raised colonies that imparted yellow pigmentation on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and MEA. Generally, colonies were raised, radially striated with green center and white margin on PDA. Average length and width of WRF5 conidia were 3.19 ± 0.33 µm and 2.73 ± 0.36 µm, respectively. Cross-referencing morphological and cultural data with related literatures and identification keys indicated the isolated fungi were Trichoderma viride (WRF1), T. crassum (WRF3), T. reesei (WRF5), Rhizopus sp. (WRF8) and Coniophora sp. Furthermore, inoculation of 108 T. reesei conidia per mL on clean Mayapis wood blocks resulted in profuse fungal growth, with average weight loss recorded at 8.81 ± 0.79% at 8 wk and 10.53 ± 0.88% at 14 wk which indicated a considerable but slow wood degradation.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Agricultural Scientist

ISSN

317454

Page

340-349

Document Type

Article

Subject

Heritage building, Structural wood, Trichoderma, Wood biodegradation, Wood rot, Wood rot fungi

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