Leś. Pr. Bad., 2009, Vol. 70 (2): 113-122.

Ocena zależności między występowaniem w drewnie substancji o charakterze fenolowym a jego rozkładem przez wybrane gatunki grzybów saprotroficznych i pasożytniczych
Correlations between phenolic compounds in wood and its decay by chosen species
of saprotrophic and parasitic fungi

Paweł Zarzyński
Publication order reference: Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego, Wydział Leśny, Katedra Ochrony Lasu i Ekologii, Zakład Mikologii i Fitopatologii Leśnej,
ul. Nowoursynowska 159/34, 02-766 Warszawa, Fax +48 22 59 38 154,
e-mail: pawel.zarzynski@wp.pl

Abstract. To investigate natural chemical substances that might be responsible for wood protection, statistical comparisons were made. The previous work results describing the range of wood-destroying abilities of some fungi were used. Twelve different species of fungi causing all patterns of rot were investigated: Daedalea quercina, Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis officinalis, Fomitopsis pinicola, Heterobasidion annosum, Laetiporus sulphureus, Phellinus pini, Piptoporus betulinus, Schizophyllum commune, Serpula lacrymans, Stereum hirsutum and Trametes versicolor. To describe their destroying abilities, wood samples from 25 different tree species were taken and exposed on mycelium under controlled laboratory conditions. Their decaying rates were calculated after 30, 60 and 90 days of exposition. The results were compared with the quantities of different phenolic compounds identified in all kinds of wood using statistical methods (linear correlation). A total number of 1368 indexes of correlation were calculated. A valid negative correlation might indicate that some phenolic compounds may work as inhibitors of fungi growth and wood decay. However, a valid positive correlation might show that some of these substances may also work as fungi growth catalysers (accelerators).
Comparing all results of controlled wood decay for the three exposure times with the quantities of phenolic compounds from wood, 10 potential inhibitors and 15 catalysers of fungi growth were investigated. Potential inhibitors might be: 3',5'-Dimethoxyacethophenone, isoeugenol, 2-Cyclopentene-1-on-2-hydroxy-3-methyl; furanone (2-furanon); 1,4-buthanodiamine-2,3-dimethoxy N,N,N',N'tetramethyl; resorcinol, Levoglukosan, Acethylobenzoic-2,5-dimethoxy acid; 2,5-Furanodion-3-methyl and syringol. Potential catalysers might be: eugenol, guaiacylo acethone, 2-furanocarboxy-5-(hydroxymethyl) aldeehyde, 2-Metoxy-6-winylophenol, metoxybenzenodiol, vanilic acid, 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid, syringe aldehyde, 1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-2-pentanone, palmitic acid, Isolapachol, 10-H-phenoxasilin-10,10-dimethyl, alfa Lapachone; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy acethylobenzoic acid and koniferol.
However, these conclusions are only the result of statistical comparison and need to be proved in laboratory tests, showing proper abilities of all these substances for natural wood protection from saprotrophic and parasitic fungi.

Key words: natural wood protection, inhibitors of fungi growth, catalyzers of fungi growth.