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Nitrogen sources of oligoporus placenta and trametes versicolor evaluated in a 2³ experimental plan
(2012)
Four full-factorial 2³ experimental plans were applied to evaluate the nitrogen (N) sources of Oligoporus placenta and Trametes versicolor and their interaction with the atmospheric N2-assimilating bacterium Beijerinckia acida. The effects of N from peptone, of sapwood and of N from gaseous N2 on fungal, bacterial and fungal–bacterial activity were investigated. The activities were determined by quantification of biomass, formation of CO2, consumption of O2 and laccase activity. The significance of each effect was tested according to t-test recommendation.
The activity of both fungi was enhanced by peptone rather than sapwood or gaseous N2. Nevertheless, comparative studies under an N2-free gas mixture as well as under air revealed that the presence of N2 affected bacterial growth and bacterial–fungal cocultivations. Elemental analysis isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) of the bacterial and fungal biomass enabled estimation of N transfer and underlined gaseous N2 as requisite for fungal–bacterial interactions. Combining full-factorial experimental plans with an analytical set-up comprising gas chromatography, IRMS and enzymatic activity allowed synergistic effects to be revealed, fungal N sources to be traced, and symbiotic fungal–bacterial interactions to be investigated.
Material performance testing of wood-plastic composites (WPC) requires adequate and time-efficient evaluation of the resistance against fungal colonisation and decay. This study investigates the effects of weathering on WPCs and subsequent material degradation by fungi. Weathering using UV radiation, water spray and repeated frost incidents caused micro- and macro-cracks. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) demonstrated delignification of wood particles at the weathered WPC surface. Despite of increased surface area, accessibility for fungal hyphae and moisture content, weathering enhanced mass loss due to fungal decay only subtly but not significantly. These potentially enhancing effects for fungal decay are assumed to be outbalanced by delignification due to photo-oxidation and leaching of degradation products resulting in loss of nutrient sources essential for fungal growth.
Flame retarded wood-plastic composites (WPCs) should allow safe application in areas of fire risk. Halogen-free flame retardants can contain high amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus or sulphur, which may serve as nutrition source for wood degrading fungi and accelerate wood decay. Therefore, the material resistance of WPCs with each of four flame retardants against both fire or fungal decay was examined in comparison to WPC without flame retardant. Expandable graphite showed the best performance against fire in cone calorimetry and radiant panel testing. Two ammonium polyphosphates and a third nitrogen-containing flame retardant were not as effective. Contrary to the possibility that flame retardants might enhance fungal decay of WPC, the opposite effect occurred in case of the wood-degrading fungi Trametes versicolor and Coniophora puteana according to determination of mass loss and decrease of bending modulus of elasticity. Only the surface mould Alternaria alternata slightly increased the degradation of WPCs with nitrogen-containing flame retardants compared to WPC without flame retardant according to mass loss data and FTIR-ATR analyses. Finally, WPC including expandable graphite as flame retardant was effective against both fire and fungal decay.