Fungal wood decay strategies are influenced by several factors, such as wood species, moisture content, and temperature. This study aims to evaluate wood degradation characteristics of spruce, beech, and oak after exposure to the white-rot fungi Pleurotusostreatus and Trametesversicolor. Both fungi caused high mass losses in beech wood, while spruce and oak wood were more resistant to decay. The moisture content values of the decayed wood correlated with the mass losses for all three wood species and incubation periods. Combined microscopic and chemical studies indicated that the two fungi differed in their decay behavior. While T. versicolor produced a decay pattern (cell wall erosion) typical of white-rot fungi in all wood species, P. ostreatus caused cell wall erosion in spruce and beech and soft-rot type I (cavity formation) decay in oak wood. These observations suggest that P. ostreatus may have the capacity to produce a wider range of enzymes/radicals triggered by the chemical composition of wood cell walls and/or local compositional variability within the cell wall.

The chemical and morphological changes in heartwood specimens of Liquidambar orientalis Mill. caused by the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor and the brown-rot fungi Tyromyces palustris and Gloeophyllum trabeum were studied by wet chemistry, FT-IR, GC-MS analyses, and photo-microscopy. According to GC-MS results, 26 extracts identified in the ethanol/toluene extraction and 17 in the ethanol extraction were found. Heartwood specimens of L. orientalis were highly susceptible to the fungi tested. While 1% NaOH solubility increased 35% in the specimen decayed by T. palustris, only an 8% increase was seen in the specimen exposed to T. versicolor when compared to the control specimen. Decayed wood by T. palustris showed a 5.5% increase in the Klason lignin content when compared to control specimens; however, the Klason lignin content decreased after a T. versicolor attack for 12 weeks. A T. versicolor attack in the cell walls was seen both from the lumina and from the cell corners, and the attack from the cell corners was mainly clear in ray parenchyma cells. An excessive destruction was detected in the wood structure attacked by T. palustris. The cell collapse was caused by a distortion in the plane of the wood cells. This extensive degradation was seen in all types of cell walls. Cracks in the cell walls were also detected in the specimens.

The biotechnological potential of nine decay fungi collected from stored beech logs at a pulp and paper factory yard in Northern Iran was investigated. Beech blocks exposed to the fungi in a laboratory decay test were used to study changes in cell wall chemistry using both wet chemistry and spectroscopic methods. Pleurotus ostreatus, P. pulmonarius, and Lentinus sajor-caju caused greater lignin breakdown compared to other white-rot fungi, which led to a 28% reduction in refining energy. Trametesversicolor caused the greatest glucan loss, while P. ostreatus and L. sajor-caju were associated with the lowest losses of this sugar. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses indicated that white-rot fungi caused greater lignin degradation in the cell walls via the oxidation aromatic rings, confirming the chemical analysis. The rate of cellulose and lignin degradation by the T.versicolor and Pleurotus species was high compared to the other decay fungi analyzed in this study. Based on the above information, we propose that, among the fungi tested, P. ostreatus (27.42% lignin loss and 1.58% cellulose loss) and L. sajor-caju (29.92% lignin loss and 5.95% cellulose loss) have the greatest potential for biopulping.

The resistance of heat-modified sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D.) sapwood against mold and decay fungi was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Wood specimens were subjected to heat treatment at 180°C for 2 and 4 hours and at 220°C for 2 hours. Changes in lignin and polysaccharide weight percent composition, solubility, and pH of heat-modified specimens were determined. Treatment at 220°C for 2 hours decreased wood polysaccharide content. Heat treatment slightly increased resistance against Rhizopus javanicus and Gliocladium (Trichoderma) virens, but not against Aspergillus niger. The highest temperature used increased resistance to decay by the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor, but mass losses with the brown-rot fungus Fomitopsis palustris were higher than those with T. versicolor.

Meticulous chemical analysis of decaying xylem and linking it to corresponding anatomical modification at the cellular level can improve our understanding of the decay process. The aim of this study was to monitor the histological, chemical, photochemical, and progression of wood degradation by two white-rot fungi at different intervals. Oriental beech wood (Fagus orientalis) blocks were exposed to Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor to investigate the degradation capabilities of these two fungi. Light microscopy was used to study the decay patterns in wood. Decayed wood samples were also analyzed to determine lignin, cellulose and sugar contents and also evaluated at two week intervals by FT-IR spectroscopy to study chemical alterations. According to chemical analyses lignin is the most degraded polymer followed by cellulose and hemicelluloses for both white rot fungi. However, both test fungi tended to consume lignin more than cellulose. FT-IR spectra changes for lignin and carbohydrates in beech wood supported chemical alteration and indicated that both fungi decay wood in a simultaneous pattern.

Nowadays, carbon footprint (CF) is became an important topic closely related to the ecological production of goods and services. Energy use and subsequent emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in all human facilities affect the world’s climate in the form of global warming in recent decades. The dominant greenhouse gas arising from human activities is carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon footprint is CO2 and other GHGs that are released per unit product for a specific period. The main purpose of this study is the determination of most important critic processes about that contribute to the cf problem during medium-density fiberboard (MDF) production with Pareto analysis method. MDF is a kind of composite panel product which is typically containing of cellulosic fibers with the combination of synthetic resins and additives becoming under heat and pressure. For this purpose, a wood-based panel company is selected to examine cf for its each process. As a conclusion this study makes an important contribution to the panel based industry to see the emission problems with the help of Pareto analysis and help to perform an environmental oriented production for the future. Moreover, two scenarios are built up to decrease of total carbon footprint in the selected plant. So, the analysis results are supported with two scenarios. Also, this study shall provide a general view and perception for the importance of the carbon footprint in the wood panel based industrial sector.