The minimum moisture threshold for wood decay by basidiomycetes revisited. A review and modified pile experiments with Norway spruce and European beech decayed by Coniophora puteana and Trametes versicolor
Abstract:Abstract:To know the minimum moisture threshold (MMThr) in wood allowing for the initiation of the fungal decay by basidiomycetes is relevant both from a theoretical and a practical point of view. The present work summarizes the knowledge about MMThr and presents experimental data obtained by improved laboratory decay tests on Picea abies (Norway spruce) and Fagus sylvatica (European beech) with the fungi Coniophora puteana and Trametes versicolor under different exposure scenarios well suited for simulation i… Show more
“…After a total exposure time of one year, no signs of wood decay were observed for all samples. This is generally in line with experiments in literature which do not include a liquid water source and in which the MC is below FSP [12,13]. This might indicate that onset of decay cannot happen if there is no liquid water source available and if the moisture content of the wood is below FSP.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 91%
“…Various laboratory experiments are reported in literature to define the minimal moisture threshold for fungal decay (a.o. [9][10][11][12][13]). In these tests, it is specifically investigated whether fungal decay is possible below 'fibre saturation point'.…”
Due to the increasingly stringent energy efficiency requirements, timber frame houses are becoming more and more popular across Europe. Depending on the circumstances, timber frame walls might be exposed to high relative humidity or condensation conditions, leading to a risk of fungal degradation. In order to assess the durability of a timber frame construction in a reliable way, a clear view on the potential risk of fungal growth is essential. Various experiments are reported in literature to define the minimal moisture threshold for fungal decay, yet all very different in set-up and hence leading to contradictory conclusions. Therefore, the present paper aims at a contribution to a better understanding of the influence of moisture conditions on the onset and progress of wood decay in timber frame walls. Based on the information that is still lacking in international literature, a new test methodology has been elaborated within this work and is reported in this paper.
“…After a total exposure time of one year, no signs of wood decay were observed for all samples. This is generally in line with experiments in literature which do not include a liquid water source and in which the MC is below FSP [12,13]. This might indicate that onset of decay cannot happen if there is no liquid water source available and if the moisture content of the wood is below FSP.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 91%
“…Various laboratory experiments are reported in literature to define the minimal moisture threshold for fungal decay (a.o. [9][10][11][12][13]). In these tests, it is specifically investigated whether fungal decay is possible below 'fibre saturation point'.…”
Due to the increasingly stringent energy efficiency requirements, timber frame houses are becoming more and more popular across Europe. Depending on the circumstances, timber frame walls might be exposed to high relative humidity or condensation conditions, leading to a risk of fungal degradation. In order to assess the durability of a timber frame construction in a reliable way, a clear view on the potential risk of fungal growth is essential. Various experiments are reported in literature to define the minimal moisture threshold for fungal decay, yet all very different in set-up and hence leading to contradictory conclusions. Therefore, the present paper aims at a contribution to a better understanding of the influence of moisture conditions on the onset and progress of wood decay in timber frame walls. Based on the information that is still lacking in international literature, a new test methodology has been elaborated within this work and is reported in this paper.
“…Different fungi have different moisture requirements for successful infestation of wood (Meyer and Brischke, 2015 ; Brischke et al, 2017 ). Yet, our data suggest that the extractives do not play a key role in the moisture regulation of our larch specimen, as the MC was not different enough between the extracted and native samples to explain the differences we found in degradation.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…One role of the more hydrophobic extractives is possibly to repel water, as the amount of moisture in the wood is critical for the fungus' successful establishment (Meyer and Brischke, 2015 ; Brischke et al, 2017 ). For instance, it has been suggested that a certain cell wall moisture content is needed to form pathways within the cell walls to allow diffusion of the fungal low molecular weight substances (Zelinka et al, 2015 ; Hunt et al, 2018 ).…”
Extractives found in the heartwood of a moderately durable conifer (Larix gmelinii var. japonica) were compared with those found in a non-durable one (Picea abies). We identified and quantified heartwood extractives by extraction with solvents of different polarities and gas chromatography with mass spectral detection (GC-MS). Among the extracted compounds, there was a much higher amount of hydrophilic phenolics in larch (flavonoids) than in spruce (lignans). Both species had similar resin acid and fatty acid contents. The hydrophobic resin components are considered fungitoxic and the more hydrophilic components are known for their antioxidant activity. To ascertain the importance of the different classes of extractives, samples were partially extracted prior to subjection to the brown-rot fungus Rhodonia placenta for 2-8 weeks. Results indicated that the most important (but rather inefficient) defense in spruce came from the fungitoxic resin, while large amounts of flavonoids played a key role in larch defense. Possible moisture exclusion effects of larch extractives were quantified via the equilibrium moisture content of partially extracted samples, but were found to be too small to play any significant role in the defense against incipient brow-rot attack.
“…Several previous studies have addressed the relationship between moisture content and fungal activity (studies cited in (15,16), some of which have pointed to a risk of fungal attack even below the fibre saturation point, reaching the limit value of 16.3% in Picea abies (15). The risk of moisture leading to wood decay, however, is commonly considered to be above a moisture content of 20 to 30% (16)(17)(18).…”
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the species on the biological resistance of wood against decay and to propose corrective values of the critical dose. To evaluate the species effect, the evolution of the number of days per year with moisture content exceeding 18% was assessed in flat sawn 20x100x750 mm3 test samples of Laricio, Scots and Radiata pines and also of Norway spruce, Eucalypt (globulus) and sweet chestnut during the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, exposed at seven locations in Spain with the most representative Spanish climates. A value of 1.0 is proposed for the four conifers, 2.51 for the Eucalypt and 1.84 for the Sweet chestnut. As regards the species effect it was not possible to separate that corresponding to the different wetting/releasing ability of each species and that of their crack susceptibility, both aspects having to be evaluated together as “species factor”.
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