Progress 07/01/08 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Spalting is the aesthetic enhancement of wood using fungal growth. The objective of this project was to use low doses of fungicides to control the spalting process. Studies were performed on the effects sub-lethal doses of copper (II), boric acid, tebuconazole, and a quaternary ammonium salt on fungal growth in a solid wood medium. Statistical analysis were conducted and results written into manuscripts. Dual fungal inoculations and their interactions with low level copper sulfate were also determined. Several large-scale surface treatment tests were carried out with copper sulfate and Trametes versicolor on sugar maple. The data were disseminated via publications. PARTICIPANTS: Sara Robinson and undergraduate research assistants TARGET AUDIENCES: The wood mycology scientific community. The amateur woodworking community. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The use of low-level copper sulfate in sugar maple blocks inoculated with two fungi changed the performance of both fungi. In Scytalidium cuboideum/Xylaria polymorpha interactions, copper sulfate caused S. cuboideum to produce more melanin, and also produce pink zone lines. In Ceratocystis virescens/Xylaria polymorpha, copper sulfate restricted blue stain of C. virescens to only areas already degraded by X. polymorpha. In addition, low levels of copper sulfate pressure treated into rough-turned bowls of sugar maple allowed for sectional surface degradation by Trametes versicolor, resulting in a texturized surface similar to sand blasting. Other fungicides and fungal species tested had less impact on wood appearance.
Publications
- Robinson, S.C. 2011. Destroying uniformity: Using fungi to add a tactile and visual experience to functional wood. Leonardo Journal 44(2):145-151.
- Robinson, S.C., Laks, P.E. 2011. The effects of copper in large scale mono- and dual-fungus wood systems. Forest Products Journal 60(6):490-495.
- Robinson, S.C., Laks, P.E., Richter, D.L. 2011. Stimulating spalting in sugar maple using sub-lethal doses of copper. European Journal of Wood and Wood Products 69(4):527-532.
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Statistical analysis was conducted on previously collected data, and results written into manuscripts. Dual inoculations and their interactions with low level copper sulfate was also determined. Several large-scale surface treatment tests were carried out with copper sulfate and Trametes versicolor on sugar maple. The data were disseminated via publications. PARTICIPANTS: 1. Sara Robinson 2. Undergraduate research assistants TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The use of low-level copper sulfate on sugar maple blocks with multiple fungi changed the performance of both fungi. In Scytalidium cuboideum/Xylaria polymorpha interactions, copper sulfate caused S. cuboideum to produce more melanin, and also produce pink zone lines. In Ceratocystis virescens/Xylaria polymorpha, copper sulfate restricted blue stain of C. virescens to only areas already degraded by X. polymorpha. In addition, low levels of copper sulfate pressure treated into rough-turned bowls of sugar maple allowed for sectional surface degradation by Trametes versicolor, resulting in a texturized surface similar to sand blasting.
Publications
- Robinson, S.C. 2011. Destroying uniformity: Using fungi to add a tactile and visual experience to functional wood. Leonardo Journal 44(2):145-151.
- Robinson, S.C., Laks, P.E. 2011. The effects of copper in large scale mono- and dual-fungus wood systems. Forest Products Journal 60(6):490-495.
- Robinson, S.C., Laks, P.E., Richter, D.L. 2011. Stimulating spalting in sugar maple using sub-lethal doses of copper. European Journal of Wood and Wood Products 69(4):527-532.
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Data were collected on weight loss and spalting produced by Trametes versicolor, Xylaria polymorpha, Postia placenta, Arthrographis cuboidea, and Ceratocystis virescens on 14 mm cubes of sugar maple and white pine treated with tebuconazole, DDAC, or boric acid. Experiments were conducted on exclusionary spalting with the use of copper sulfate as a topical treatment. The data were disseminated via publications, and one graduate student was supported for one year. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate research assistants were utilized for color analysis, block preparation, and fungal culturing. Students learned how to use the Scion Image protocol, how to culture and care for fungal cultures, and how to pressure treat lumber. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
More weight loss was found with white pine cubes inoculated with Postia placenta and treated with sub-lethal levels of tebuconazole than on control cubes. DDAC and boric acid retentions did not stimulate weight loss. The retention of 1.0 kg/m3 copper sulfate, when applied topically, successfully excluded growth of Xylaria polymorpha in a small area, allowing for designs to be placed on sugar maple lumber.
Publications
- Robinson, S.C., Laks, P.E. 2010. The Effects of Sub-threshold Loadings of Tebuconazole, DDAC and Boric Acid on Wood Decay by Postia placenta. Holzforschung 64(4):537-543.
- Robinson, S.C., Laks, P.E. 2010. Practical Spalting of Wood Using Copper. Coloration Technology, in press.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Data were collected on weight loss and spalting produced by Trametes versicolor, Xylaria polymorpha, Postia placenta, Arthrographis cuboidea, and Ceratocystis virescens on 14 mm cubes of sugar maple and white pine treated with copper sulfate. Data were also collected on spalting produced by dual inoculation of aforementioned fungi on 37 mm sugar maple cube blocks treat with copper sulfate. The data were disseminated via publications. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate research assistants were utilized for color analysis, block preparation, and fungal culturing. Students learned how to use the Scion Image protocol, how to culture and care for fungal cultures, and how to pressure treat lumber. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our target audience is the general public and the wood protection industry. The latter includes chemical manufacturers, product formulators, treating companies, and forest products companies. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
A protocol was developed that utilized Scion Image as a color analysis tool for evaluating the amount of spalting on each cube. This protocol allowed for a less subjective method of determining the amount of spalting on each piece of wood. The laboratory resources available allowed for a large scale evaluation of the effectiveness of soil and vermiculite as incubation mediums. The mediums were then used based upon their attributes - when decay was desired, soil was used, and when spalting was desired, vermiculite was used. Copper sulfate stimulated zone line production on sugar maple with Xylaria polymorpha, and caused Arthrographis cuboidea to produce orange instead of pink pigment. Dual inoculations in the presence of copper produced pink zone lines (Arthrographis cuboidea / Xylaria polymorpha).
Publications
- Robinson, S.C., Laks, P.E. and Richter, D.L. 2009. Stimulating spalting in sugar maple using sub-lethal doses of copper. European Journal of Wood and Wood Products in review.
- Robinson, S.C., Laks, P.E., Turnquist, E.J. 2009. A method for digital color analysis of spalted wood using Scion Image software. Materials 2(1): 62-75.
- Robinson, S.C., Richter, D.L., Laks, P.E. 2009. Effects of substrate on laboratory spalting of sugar maple. Holzforschung 63: 491-495.
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