Anatomical Characteristics of Korean Red Pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) Wood Degraded by a Brown-rot Fungus (Lentinus lepideus)

갈색부후균(Lentinus lepideus)에 의해 부후된 소나무 재(Pinus densiflora S. et Z.)의 해부학적 특성

The purpose of this study was to describe the micromorphological changes in Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) wood decayed by a major brown-rot fungus, Lentinus lepideus, using scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. At the end of the 12-week exposure to the fungus in soil block procedure(ASTM 1971), test blocks sustained 5.02% weight loss. The formation of bore hole by hyphae and penetration of hyphae through bordered pit were not observed. Instead, fungal hyphae appeared to penetrate axially tracheid luminar from the the ray cells via cross field pits. Hyphae were mainly found in lignin rich cell corner regions of tracheids, and also extensive degradation of tracheid wall occurred in this region. Extensive degradation of $S_2$ layer occurred without noticeable alteration of the $S_3$ layer, but warty layer and compound middle lamella remained relatively intact. Localized erosion, the characteristic of white rot, was observed in some cell wall and wall components including lignin were found to be decomposed.