Influence of thermally modification of ash and spruce on the functionality of fungal destructive agent (Coniophora puteana)

 The purpose of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of brown rot fungus on ash (Fraxinus Sp.) and spruce (Picea Sp.) thermo-wood and also thermally modification on fungal functionality. In first step, prepared wood samples of both species were heat treated under 212 ºC for 3 hours. Afterwards, heat-treated and untreated wood specimens were exposed to brown rot fungus for 16 weeks based on EN 313 and the functionality of fungal destructive agent and also its effect on physical and mechanical properties were finally analyzed. The obtained results showed that the brown rot fungus has been more efficiency on untreated specimens in compared with thermo-wood in both two wood species and caused more destruction and mass loss. Moreover, the results revealed that some physical and mechanical properties include density, compression parallel to grain and impact strength of exposed heated specimens to brown rot fungus were more than unexposed heated specimens to this fungus. Evaluation of laccase activity which produced by brown rot fungus showed more its effect on controls than heat treated specimens in both wood species. Based on the results, thermally modification can generally causes improvement of biological resistance, reduction of some physical and mechanical properties as well as more stability of applied properties of ash and Picea wood which exposed to the brown rot fungus.