Fungal biomass in decayed wood

Abstract

Fungal biomass in decayed wood was measured using glucosamine as an indicator. Apparent mass loss and glucosamine content of wood blocks decayed by Trametes versicolor, Oligoporus placentus, Bjerkandera adusta, Gloeophyllum trabeum, and Phialocephala dimorphospora were measured at selected intervals. After 12 weeks of decay by T. versicolor, birch blocks contained 31.3% fungal biomass, more than any other fungus-wood combination. Fungal biomass in birch decayed by B. adusta and G. trabeum exceeded 9.0%. Measurements of apparent mass loss underestimate actual loss of wood mass, determined by correcting for fungal biomass, by as much as 42%. Such errors are greatest at lower mass losses.

Key Words:

• chitin
• fungal biomass
• glucosamine
• wood decay