Knowra Wood-decay fungus Wood-decay fungus A fungus that decomposes wood by breaking down cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Its activity recycles carbon and nutrients while altering the structure of dead wood.
White rot : Wood decay that removes lignin along with cellulose and hemicellulose, often leaving pale, fibrous material. These fungi can break down lignin as well as the carbohydrates in wood.
Wood : The hard, fibrous tissue that forms the stems and branches of trees and other woody plants. It is the material whose structural polymers wood-decay fungi dismantle.
Forest carbon cycle : The movement and storage of carbon among forests, their organisms, soils, and the atmosphere. Fungal decay returns carbon stored in dead wood to ecosystems and the atmosphere.
Trametes versicolor : A widespread bracket fungus that causes white rot in dead and living wood. It is a well-studied example of a fungus capable of lignin degradation.
Brown rot : Wood decay that primarily removes cellulose and hemicellulose, leaving modified lignin and brown, brittle material. This strategy rapidly weakens wood while leaving much of its lignin behind.
Hemicellulose : A group of branched plant cell-wall polysaccharides associated with cellulose fibers. It is one of the major carbohydrate components consumed during wood decay.
Wood preservation : Methods that protect wood from biological deterioration, moisture, and other damaging conditions. Preservation techniques aim to prevent the decay these fungi cause.
Serpula lacrymans : A brown-rot fungus that causes dry rot in timber, especially in buildings with damp conditions. Its ability to spread through masonry makes it a notable structural pest.
Soft rot : Wood decay in which fungi erode cell walls or form cavities, especially under conditions limiting other decay fungi. It is a distinct decay mode common in persistently wet or chemically harsh settings.
Fungal hypha : A branching filament that forms the basic growing structure of most fungi. Hyphae penetrate wood and deliver enzymes and other decay agents.
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