Xylem defense wood of Norway spruce compromised by the pathogenic white-rot fungus Heterobasidion parviporum shows a prolonged period of selective decay

AbstractThe biotechnological application of the white rot fungusPhysisporinus vitreusnamed “bioincising” is currently being investigated for permeability improvement of Norway spruce (Picea abies(L.) Karst.) wood. During short-term (<9 weeks) incubation, fungal activity induces degradation of pit membranes and a simultaneous alteration of the tracheid cell wall structure. In Part 1 of this article series, the occurrence of selective delignification and simultaneous degradation was shown by UV-microspectrophotometry (UMSP). Moreover, significant reduction of Brinell hardness was recorded after 7 and 9 weeks incubation. For a better understanding of the chemical alterations in the wood constituents and the corresponding changes of mechanical properties due to fungal activity, we applied microtensile tests on thin strips that were prepared from the surface of incubated Norway spruce wood. Indications for the occurrence of selective delignification and simultaneous degradation were evident. Determination of lignin content and carbohydrate analysis by borate anion exchange chromatography confirmed the results. The present study verifies the findings from Part 1 of this article series and from previously conducted microscopic investigations. Now, the degradation characteristics ofP. vitreusare established and the bioincising process can be further optimized with higher reliability.

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The pathogenic white-rot fungus Heterobasidion parviporum triggers non-specific defence responses in the bark of Norway spruce

Tree Physiology ◽

10.1093/treephys/tpr113 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 31 (11) ◽

pp. 1262-1272 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

J. Arnerup ◽

M. Lind ◽

A. Olson ◽

J. Stenlid ◽

M. Elfstrand

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

White Rot ◽

White Rot Fungus ◽

Defence Responses

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Cytochemical and immunocytochemical characterization of wood decayed by the white rot fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus I. preferential lignin degradation prior to hemicelluloses in Norway spruce wood

International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation ◽

10.1016/j.ibiod.2015.08.008 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 105 ◽

pp. 30-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jong Sik Kim ◽

Jie Gao ◽

Geoffrey Daniel

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Lignin Degradation ◽

White Rot ◽

White Rot Fungus ◽

Pycnoporus Sanguineus ◽

Spruce Wood

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Spatial Patterns in Hyphal Growth and Substrate Exploitation within Norway Spruce Stems Colonized by the Pathogenic White-Rot Fungus Heterobasidion parviporum

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02392-08 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 75 (12) ◽

pp. 4069-4078 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Ari M. Hietala ◽

Nina E. Nagy ◽

Arne Steffenrem ◽

Harald Kvaalen ◽

Carl G. Fossdal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracellular Matrix ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Reaction Zone ◽

Hyphal Growth ◽

White Rot ◽

White Rot Fungus ◽

Local Concentration ◽

Enhanced Production ◽

Hyphal Sheath ◽

Pathogen Dna

ABSTRACT In Norway spruce, a fungistatic reaction zone with a high pH and enrichment of phenolics is formed in the sapwood facing heartwood colonized by the white-rot fungus Heterobasidion parviporum. Fungal penetration of the reaction zone eventually results in expansion of this xylem defense. To obtain information about mechanisms operating upon heartwood and reaction zone colonization by the pathogen, hyphal growth and wood degradation were investigated using real-time PCR, microscopy, and comparative wood density analysis of naturally colonized trees with extensive stem decay. The hyphae associated with delignified wood at stump level were devoid of any extracellular matrix, whereas incipient decay at the top of decay columns was characterized by a carbohydrate-rich hyphal sheath attaching hyphae to tracheid walls. The amount of pathogen DNA peaked in aniline wood, a narrow darkened tissue at the colony border apparently representing a compromised region of the reaction zone. Vigorous production of pathogen conidiophores occurred in this region. Colonization of aniline wood was characterized by hyphal growth within polyphenolic lumen deposits in tracheids and rays, and the hyphae were fully encased in a carbohydrate-rich extracellular matrix. Together, these data indicate that the interaction of the fungus with the reaction zone involves a local concentration of fungal biomass that forms an efficient translocation channel for nutrients. Finally, the enhanced production of the hyphal sheath may be instrumental in lateral expansion of the decay column beyond the reaction zone boundary.

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Two antagonistic fungi, "D 37" and Scytalidium album, reduce the formation of bore holes by Heterobasidion annosum in Norway spruce (Picea abies)

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b87-126 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 65 (5) ◽

pp. 916-920 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna Lundborg

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

White Rot ◽

Heterobasidion Annosum ◽

White Rot Fungus ◽

Antagonistic Fungi

The white-rot fungus Heterobasidion annosum was inoculated into stem discs of Norway spruce together with the antagonistic fungi "D 37" or Scytalidium album. When H. annosum grew alone in the wood, many bore holes were formed through the tracheid walls. The antagonists allowed growth of H. annosum in the wood to the same extent as in wood with H. annosum alone, but there were few bore holes when an antagonist was present. It is suggested that the antagonists decreased the ability of H. annosum to form bore holes.

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Effect of Physisporinus vitreus on wood properties of Norway spruce. Part 1: Aspects of delignification and surface hardness

Holzforschung ◽

10.1515/hf.2011.021 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 65 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Christian Lehringer ◽

Gerald Koch ◽

Ramesh-Babu Adusumalli ◽

William M. Mook ◽

Klaus Richter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Brinell Hardness ◽

Surface Hardness ◽

Hardness Test ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Acoustic Properties ◽

White Rot ◽

White Rot Fungus ◽

Wall Structure

Abstract The white rot fungus Physisporinus vitreus is currently tested for several biotechnological applications such as permeability improvement of refractory wood species or the optimization of the acoustic properties of wood for violins. The enzymatic activity of P. vitreus results in the degradation of pit membranes and simultaneous alterations of the tracheid cell wall structure in wood of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst]. By this means, selective delignification and simultaneous degradation occur in the latewood tracheids at short incubation times. To study the delignification of individual cell wall layers in latewood tracheids, cellular UV-microspectrophotometry was applied to wood of Norway spruce that had been incubated for between 3 and 9 weeks. By means of this technique, the progressing delignification was demonstrated in the latewood tracheid secondary walls. Moreover, local delignification in close proximity to hyphal tunneling, cavities, and notches was evident. Additionally, the mechanical changes were measured (a) at the macroscopic level by Brinell hardness test and (b) at the cellular level by nanoindentation. Brinell hardness was significantly reduced with increasing incubation time which was attributed to the partial delignification. Unlike Brinell tests, results from nanoindentation tests did not show a clear effect of fungal activity because of the material heterogeneity and the high spatial resolution of this technique. The present study provides methodological approaches for the investigation of wood-fungus interactions and contributes to a better understanding of the characteristics of wood decay at the subcellular level caused by the white rot fungus P. vitreus. Moreover, it establishes the basis for a subsequent chemical analysis, for which the results will be the topic of a second paper in this series.

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Draft Genome Sequence of the Basidiomycete White-Rot Fungus Phlebia centrifuga

Genome Announcements ◽

10.1128/genomea.01414-17 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (14) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Miia R. Mäkelä ◽

Mao Peng ◽

Zoraide Granchi ◽

Thomas Chin-A-Woeng ◽

Rosa Hegi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Genome Sequence ◽

Draft Genome ◽

White Rot ◽

Draft Genome Sequence ◽

White Rot Fungus ◽

Genome Length ◽

Content Type ◽

Finnish Lapland

ABSTRACT Here, we report the genome sequence of wood-decaying white-rot fungus Phlebia centrifuga strain FBCC195, isolated from Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) in Finnish Lapland. The 34.66-Mb genome containing 13,785 gene models is similar to the genome length reported for other saprobic white-rot species.

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Ligninolytic activity of Phlebiopsis gigantea strains in cultivation on Norway spruce wood

BALTIC FORESTRY ◽

10.46490/vol25iss1pp015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 15-24

Author(s):

Anna Zolciak

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Lignin Peroxidase ◽

Manganese Peroxidase ◽

Protocatechuic Acid ◽

Extracellular Enzymes ◽

White Rot ◽

Versatile Peroxidase ◽

White Rot Fungus ◽

Spruce Wood ◽

Phlebiopsis Gigantea

Abstract As a white-rot basidiomycetous and wood-decaying fungus, Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.: Fr.) Jülich is able to degrade lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose with a complex set of extracellular enzymes. Enzyme activity of this fungus has not been sufficiently explored. The aim of this study was to assess the activity of laccase and peroxidases as well as the level of micromolecular compounds in P. gigantea strains, grown on pieces of Norway spruce wood (sapwood and heartwood) over 50 days of incubation under laboratory conditions. Enzymatic activity was determined using spectrophotometry. Phlebiopsis gigantea strains showed laccase (Lacc), manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP) and versatile peroxidase (VP) activity. Hydroxy– and methoxyphenols were released during this process also. High levels of MnP activity (from 5.5 to 107.847 mU/μg of protein in cultures on sapwood and from 7.585 to 229.055 mU/μg of protein in cultures on heartwood) were observed in P. gigantea strains, as well as high activity of VP with manganese-oxidizing properties (from 3.36 to 61.708 mU/μg of protein on sapwood and from 1.7 to 254.479 mU/μg of protein on heartwood) compared with the other examined extracellular enzymes. The activity of Lacc ranged from 0 to 0.731 mU/μg of protein on sapwood and from 0 to 0.216 of protein on heartwood. LiP activity was also low and ranged from 0.025 to 0.593 mU/μg of protein on sapwood, and from 0.060 to 1.566 mU/μg of protein on heartwood. The activity of VP in terms of guaiacol-oxidizing properties ranged from 0.016 to 1.432 mU/μg of protein in cultures on sapwood, and from 0.042 to 1.238 mU/μg of protein on heartwood. Released hydroxyphenols for P. gigantea strains ranged from 39.204-129.157 μg of protocatechuic acid/ml in cultures on sapwood, and from 23.098-83.630 μg of protocatechuic acid/ml on heartwood. Methoxyphenols produced by P. gigantea strains ranged from 7.5 to 22.987 μg of vanillin acid/ml on sapwood, and from 10.187 to 36.885 μg of vanillin acid/ml on heartwood. Keywords: white-rot fungus, Phlebiopsis gigantea, laccase, manganese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase, versatile peroxidase, hydroxy–, methoxyphenols.

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Cutlink Cleaning Head with a Spreading Feature for Biological Sprout Control

Croatian journal of forest engineering ◽

10.5552/crojfe.2022.1251 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leena Hamberg ◽

Markus Strandström ◽

Timo Saksa

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

White Rot ◽

White Rot Fungus ◽

Fungal Treatment ◽

Stand Management ◽

Young Stand ◽

Downy Birch ◽

Young Forests ◽

Further Development ◽

Potential Tool

The ability of deciduous trees to sprout efficiently after cutting is problematic in young forests where the target is to cultivate coniferous trees for industry. Since the use of chemicals has been restricted, new alternatives are needed. One potential and environmentally friendly option is biological sprout control that is based on the use of a white-rot fungus, Chondrostereum purpureum (Pers. Ex Fr.) Pouzar. This method has been efficient in earlier investigations when performed manually, but efficient, fully mechanized devices which are able to cut and treat stumps with a fungus are still unavailable. Therefore, the efficacy of biological sprout control conducted with a Cutlink cleaning head equipped with a spreading feature was studied in two young Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) forests in central Finland.Sample plots for the control (cutting deciduous saplings only) and fungal treatment (cutting and spreading fungal inoculum on fresh stump surfaces) were established, and the ability of the Cutlink cleaning head in preventing sprouting of silver and downy birch (Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh., respectively) in the sample plots was investigated for two years.In the near vicinity of cultivated Norway spruce, the proportion of cut deciduous saplings varied from 50–60% after the Cutlink operation. The average mortality of silver and downy birch stumps in the fungal treatment plots was ca. 40%, while stump mortality in the control, i.e., cutting only, was only ca. 13%, after two years. Stump mortality increased up to 73% if the stumps did not include old branches, i.e., the stump was cut to a low enough height.These results confirmed that the Cutlink cleaning head is a potential tool in young stand management operation but further development will be needed in working methods in order to achieve lower stump heights (no branches on the stump) and also to increase the proportion of cut saplings.

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