• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.776-784
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• 2016

In this study, green Larix kaempferi lumber was heat-treated by using superheated steam (SHS) at a pilot scale and then various physico-mechanical properties of the heat-treated wood were evaluated and compared with the properties of conventional hot air (HA) heat-treated wood. Decay resistance of brown rot fungi and compressive strength parallel to the grain of the SHS heat-treated wood without occurrence of drying check from green lumber were increased. On the other hand, density, equilibrium moisture content, shrinkage, and bending strength of the SHS heat-treated wood were lower than those of the conventional HA heat-treated wood. Because heat transfer and thermal hydrolysis of SHS heat treatment was accelerated by a large amount of water, the effect of SHS heat treatment on the physico-mechanical properties was higher than that of HA heat treatment at the similar conditions of temperature and time. From the results of this study, because green lumber can be heat-treated without occurrence of cracks or checks by using SHS and similar heat treatment effect on the physico-mechanical properties of wood can be produced despite a low temperature or short time of heat treatment, it is expected that heat time and energy consumption could be reduced by using SHS.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.91-99
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• 2007

Activities of the extracellular enzyme from Fomitopsis palustris, a brown-rot fungi, and by which crystallinity changes of cellulose in the various softwoods, such as Larix leptolepsis, Finns rigida, Finns koraiensis and Finns densiflora by liquid culture, were investigated. Activity of Cellobiohydrolase (CBH) from F. palustris was detected in the every test softwoods culture, showing activities of the Endoglucanase (EG), $\beta$-glucosidase (BGL) and $\beta$-1,4-xylosidase (BXL). It was shown high enzyme activities in the sapwood culture than heartwood of the same wood species, However, the enzyme activities in most of test wood cultures increased with longer incubation time, indicating a possibility of intermix sapwood and heartwood for degradation process by enzyme. Also it was shown that protein patterns of the extracellular enzyme from F. palustris in wood particle substrate of the several domestic softwoods were similar with each other wood species, which suggested the possibility of mixing all softwoods in saccharification by enzyme from F. palustris. Crystallinity reduction value of cellulose by F. palustris was 4.2~20.4% in 4 weeks cultivation, 12.9~28.9% in 8 weeks.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.4 s.91
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• pp.280-282
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• 1999

A new disease on mask melon grown under plastic film houses was found in Namhae area in May of 1999. Gray to dark brown mold were grown on the surface of matured fruits and infected inside tissues were discolored and rotten. Basal part of the fruit and blossom-end were frequently infected and colonized by fungi. About 2.2% of matured fruits were infected in the surveyed plastic film houses. The causal organism was isolated from the lesion and identified as Botrytis cinerea. The conidia in mass were hyaline or gray, 1-celled, mostly ellipsoid or ovoid and sized $8.8{\sim}21.2{\times}6.5{\sim}13.1\;{\mu}m$. Hyaline or pigmented conidiophores were tall, slender and determinated and, sometimes branched irregularly in upper part. Enlarged or rounded apical cells bear conidial cluster and sized $18.4{\sim}81.1{\times}4.3{\sim}11.4\;{\mu}m$. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth was recorded at $15{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. This is the first report on gray mold of melon caused by Botrytis cineria in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2009

As a substitute for CCA, which is inhibited due to its environmental pollution and human harmfulness, and CuAz and ACQ with a high cost, okara-based wood preservatives were formulated with okara hydrolyzates using copper sulfate and/or borax as a metal salt. The efficacy of the preservatives and X-ray microanalysis of wood specimens treated with the preservatives were examined to confirm the potential of the okara-based wood preservatives. Most of the preservatives showed excellent decay resistance against brown-rot fungi, Postia placenta and Gloeophyllum trabeum. The efficacy was improved when the acid concentration and temperature used for the hydrolysis of okara increased. In addition, when borax was added into copper sulfate/okara hydrolyzates preservative formulations, any decay was not found in the specimens. From the microscopic observation of the specimens treated with okara-based wood preservatives, it seems that okara is contributed to the fixing of metal salts in wood blocks. Therefore, it is speculated that okara-based wood preservatives can effectively protect wood against fungal attack as CuAz, and that the preservatives are sufficient to use as an alternative wood preservative of CCA, ACQ and CuAz.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.576-582
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• 2013

To obtain the basic information on wood preservative process using copper, the penetration ACQ-2 preservative agent into Douglas fir wood and its degradational characteristics were investigated. Douglas fir is known to be difficult for preservative agent injection. To find the hindrance factor of the preservatives movement, the ray height, ray density, and length of tracheid were measured and observed by a stereoscopic microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results were compared in the well-penetrated parts of preservatives and insufficient parts. There were no significant differences in height, length, and density between both parts, except for the pits of the wood elements observed in SEM micrograph. More declosed pits were found in the well-penetrated parts of preservatives. Decay characteristics of wood specimen treated with various ACQ concentrations by brown-rot fungi was observed by an optical microscope. The decayed properties of tracheid, rays, and resin canals was found in the non-treated wood specimens and it was also found that some extent of preservatives concentration is necessary to protect the decay.