Decay of Wood by the Dacrymycetales

ABSTRACT

Thirty-two strains representing sixteen species in the Dacrymycetales were tested for ability to decay wood using the soil block test. Dacrymyces stillatus, D. capitatus, D. dictyosporus, D. spathularia, Cerinomyces ceraceus, Calocera cornea and C. lutea caused considerable decay of wood. Dacrymyces palmatus, D. minor, D. novae-zelandiae and Calocera viscosa decayed wood to a lesser but significant extent. Three distinct types of brown-rot were noted, and one type of white-rot. Some brown-rotting strains were unusual since they were able to remove considerable amounts of lignin.

Key Words:

• Dacrymycetales
• wood decay
• brown-rot fungi
• lignin degradation