ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF TEAK (<em>TECTONA</em> <em>GRANDIS</em>) WOOD DECAYED BY FUNGUS <em>CHRYSOSPORIUM</em> <em>ASPERATUM</em>

Abstract

SANGHVI GV, KOYANI RD & RAJPUT KS. 2013. Anatomical characterisation of teak (Tectona grandis) wood decayed by fungus Chrysosporium asperatum. Teak wood logs are most often invaded by Chrysosporium asperatum. The extent of damage caused by it within a given period was investigated by in-vitro decay test. Sound wood blocks of Tectona grandis inoculated with C. asperatum showed no appreciable weight loss in the early phase of fungal colonisation but registered a 34–38% weight loss within three months. At the outset, fungal mycelia entered into wood tissue through vessels and xylem rays, invading all cell types by ramifying through pits on lateral walls. Fungal invasion commenced from the cell corners and the middle lamellae of the fibre wall, without any pronounced effect on the primary and secondary wall layers. Xylem cells were separated due to dissolution of middle lamella in the early stage, but in the advanced stages of decay all cell types showed formation of erosion channels and bore holes. In the advanced stage of infection, vessels were deformed due to explicit degeneration and eventually collapsed due to loss of rigidity. Xylem rays were more vulnerable to degradation than axial elements. Structural alterations induced in response to fungal invasion are described in the paper.