Degradation of Timber Wood by Filamentous Fungi

A wide range of microfungi has been isolated from the wood sample of Azadiriachta indica (Neem), Mangifera indica (Mango), Ficus benghalensis (Banyan), Dalbergia sissoo (sheesham) and Saraca ascoca (Ashoka) wood. Most of these fungi are filamentous fungi. The fungi dominated in the sample are Aspergillus nidulans, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, Absidia coryambefera. , Dictyorythridium quadratum, Emericella nidulans, Fusarium culmorum, Mycelia sterila forms, Pestalotia sps. , Theilavia terricola, Torula sps. etc, were isolated on Czapak Dox Agar, Malt Extract Agar& Potato Dextrose Agar plate. Research over the past decade has repeatedly demonstrated the abundance of filamentous fungi in the soil. Evidence for the biodegradative potential of the fungi, in early infestations of wood has been well established, including in situ observations as well as laboratory data on enzymatic activity in tensile strength of timber wood due to degradation of lignocellulosic material. In present investigation fifty eight fungi isolated from various wood samples were tested for extracellular production of -amylases, gelatinases, pectinase and carboxymethyl cellulases activity. Aspergillus nidulans, Fusarium culmorum and Pestalotia showed highest activity with 3.0 cm, 5.9 cm, 4.9 cm zone of clearance, respectively, in Czapak Dox Agar medium. While Aspergillus nidulans, Fusarium culmorum and Theilevia terricola do not produce gelitinase enzyme. On the other hand, good CMCase activity found with Theilevia terricola, Mycelia sterilia I and Pestalotia species. Overall these fungi associate with different sample appear within 21-30 days after cutting of wood and invade the wood causing reduction in strength of wood qualitatively and quantitavely