Use of wood products in bio-building is increasing because of the raw material´s sustainability and renewability. Degradation of wood by fungi is one of the most signi cant threats in the use of wooden structures. In the past, degradation was prevented by the application of wood preservatives or the use of durable tropical species. Therefore, wood preservation by fossil-based compounds and heavy metals is one of the major issues. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of four essential oils of thyme species (Thymus capitatus, Coridothymus capitatus, T. vulgaris and T. vulgaris Demeter) against two white-rot fungi (Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus) and two brown-rot fungi (Poria monticola and Gloeophyllum trabeum). The thyme varietieséssential oils differed in their chemical composition, with either carvacrol, thymol or p-cymene as major components. All four essential oils showed good antifungal activities, in which T. capitatus was the most toxic when applied against P. monticola (MIC of 0.05) and the most e cient inhibiting the growth of the other fungal strains. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to investigate fungal cell wall structure under control and stress conditions. The results are a further step towards more eco-friendly solutions for preserving less durable wood products more frequently used in bio-building.

After decades of utilization of fossil-based and environmentally hazardous compounds for wood preservation against fungal attack, there is a strong need to substitute those compounds with bio-based bioactive solutions, such as essential oils. In this work, lignin nanoparticles containing four essential oils from thyme species (Thymus capitatus, Coridothymus capitatus, T. vulgaris, and T. vulgaris Demeter) were applied as biocides in in vitro experiments to test their anti-fungal effect against two white-rot fungi (Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus) and two brown-rot fungi (Poria monticola and Gloeophyllum trabeum). Entrapment of essential oils provided a delayed release over a time frame of 7 days from the lignin carrier matrix and resulted in lower minimum inhibitory concentrations of the essential oils against the brown-rot fungi (0.30–0.60 mg/mL), while for the white-rot fungi, identical concentrations were determined compared with free essential oils (0.05–0.30 mg/mL). Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to assess the fungal cell wall changes in the presence of essential oils in the growth medium. The results regarding brown-rot fungi present a promising approach for a more effective and sustainable utilization of essential oils against this class of wood-rot fungi. In the case of white-rot fungi, lignin nanoparticles, as essential oils delivery vehicles, still need optimization in their efficacy.

Plant trade coupled with climate change has led to the increased spread of well-known and new Phytophthora species, a group of fungus-like organisms placed in the Kingdom Chromista. Their presence in plant nurseries is of particular concern because they are responsible for many plant diseases, with high environmental, economic and social impacts. This paper offers a brief overview of the current status of Phytophthora species in European plant nurseries. Focus was placed on Italian sites. Despite the increasing awareness of the risk of Phytophthora spread and the management strategies applied for controlling it, the complexity of the Phytophthora community in the horticulture industry is increasing over time. Since the survey carried out by Jung et al. (2016), new Phytophthora taxa and Phytophthora-host associations were identified. Phytophthorahydropathica, P. crassamura, P. pseudocryptogea and P. meadii were reported for the first time in European plant nurseries, while P. pistaciae, P. mediterranea and P. heterospora were isolated from Italian ornamental nurseries. Knowledge of Phytophthora diversity in plant nurseries and the potential damage caused by them will help to contribute to the development of early detection methods and sustainable management strategies to control Phytophthora spread in the future.

Use of wood products in bio-building is increasing because of the raw material´s sustainability and renewability. Degradation of wood by fungi is one of the most significant threats in the use of wooden structures. In the past, degradation was prevented by the application of wood preservatives or the use of durable tropical species. Therefore, wood preservation by fossil-based compounds and heavy metals is one of the major issues. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of four essential oils of thyme species (Thymus capitatus, Coridothymus capitatus, T. vulgaris and T. vulgaris Demeter) against two white-rot fungi (Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus) and two brown-rot fungi (Poria monticola and Gloeophyllum trabeum). The thyme varietieséssential oils differed in their chemical composition, with either carvacrol, thymol or p-cymene as major components. All four essential oils showed good antifungal activities, in which T. capitatus was the most toxic when applied against P. monticola (MIC of 0.05) and the most efficient inhibiting the growth of the other fungal strains. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to investigate fungal cell wall structure under control and stress conditions. The results are a further step towards more eco-friendly solutions for preserving less durable wood products more frequently used in bio-building.