Aspergillus flavus produces dangerous secondary metabolites known as aflatoxins, which are toxic and carcinogenic, and their contamination of agricultural products results in health issues and economic hardships in the U.S. and around the world. Early identification of aflatoxigenic isolates of A. flavus is the key in the management of these fungi. An emerging detection method for specific fungi identification involves the analysis of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) released by the fungi. Complicating this approach is the understanding that many factors influence metabolic production, including growth parameters, such as growth media, temperature, spore counts and oxidation stress. In addition, analytical and data analysis methods can also influence the results. Several growth and analysis methods were evaluated and optimized in order to better understand the effect of the methods on fungi MVOC signatures. The results indicate that carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) has the best extraction efficiency for the MVOCs emitted by A. flavus. Both chemical defined agar (CDA) and chemical defined liquid (CDL) are suitable growth media for MVOC emission studies. The highest MVOC production was found at 30 °C. Log transformation was considered one of the best data pretreatment methods when analyzing MVOC data and resulted in the best principal component analysis (PCA) clustering in the experiments with different growth media. This study aims to elucidate fungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) differences due to variations in growth parameters as a first step in the development of an analytical method for the monitoring of aflatoxigenic A. flavus contamination in crop storage facilities.

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) market demand is on the rise in the United States. Adequate protective measures have not been extensively studied. The objective of this study was to investigate the weathering performance of exterior wood coatings. We evaluated coated CLT sample surfaces based on visual appearance, color change (CIE*L*a*b), gloss changes, and water intrusion. From the five exterior wood coatings evaluated, only two showed adequate performance after twelve months field exposure. Based on visual ratings following the ASTM procedures, coating failure occurs more quickly in Mississippi than in Wisconsin, due to its greater decay zone. Both location and coating type impacted the aging of the samples. Artificial weathering results were consistent with natural weathering indicating the two adequate coatings were the most resistant to failure, color, and gloss change. For future studies, new coatings designed for the protection of end-grain in CLT panels should be a target of research and development.

Biochar, wood vinegar, and poultry litter are waste streams that can be utilized as soil amendments and fertilizers. However, poultry litter releases several pollutants through nutrient leaching and carries heavy microbial loads, including potential human pathogens. Improving nutrient retention and reducing microbial load in poultry litter may help protect environmental and human health and improve its value as a soil amendment. The objectives of this study were to determine how blending varying proportions of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) biochar, wood vinegar, and poultry litter affected nutrient profiles and microbial abundance over time. Biochar inclusion rates were 0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%, and wood vinegar was applied at 2% w/w. Samples were taken at Day 0, 57, and 112 to measure nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, total fungi, and total bacteria. Nutrient levels generally decreased with increasing biochar level; however, biochar inclusion rates of 10% and 20% retained nitrogen and phosphorus and exhibited improved physical properties. Overall, adding wood vinegar decreased nutrient concentrations and showed a biocidal effect for bacteria and fungi. Bacteria and fungi showed different relationships with biochar inclusion rates, with fungi preferring higher biochar inclusion rates and bacteria flourishing at lower biochar inclusion rates.

Wood remains a cornerstone material in construction and outdoor applications, yet its durability is continually compromised by fungal decay and insect infestation. Increasing regulatory restrictions on conventional wood preservatives and growing sustainability demands have intensified interest in bio-based alternatives. Among these, essential oils exhibit strong antifungal and insect-repellent activity but suffer from high volatility, leaching, and limited durability under moisture exposure. This review examines recent advances in chitosan nanoparticle-based encapsulation of essential oils as a strategy to overcome these limitations and enable more sustainable and environmentally responsible wood protection systems. The review synthesizes current knowledge on nanoparticle synthesis routes, physicochemical properties, bioactive delivery mechanisms, antifungal and anti-termite performance, and behavior under moisture and weathering conditions, alongside sustainability and regulatory considerations. The reviewed literature demonstrates that chitosan nanoparticles enhance essential oil retention, stability, and controlled release, leading to improved resistance against biological deterioration compared with unencapsulated formulations. In addition to performance benefits, these nano-enabled systems align with circular bioeconomy principles by utilizing renewable and waste-derived feedstocks while avoiding heavy metals and persistent synthetic biocides. Despite promising laboratory results, challenges remain related to long-term field performance, scalability, and environmental fate. Overall, chitosan–essential oil nano-formulations represent a versatile platform for next-generation, low-hazard wood protection, offering a promising pathway toward sustainable and durable wood preservation technologies.

In this study, the most effective application method of guayule resin and its effects on termite and fungal decay biological performances of wood strand-based (WSB) panels were explored. Southern yellow pine (Pinus spp. L.) wood strands were mixed with phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin to a target resin content of 5.00% and hot-pressed to manufacture the control WSB panels. For the in-situ process, a guayule resin solution was prepared and sprayed on the wood strands immediately after spraying the PF resin to a target content of 5.00%. For brushing and spraying methods, a sub-set of the control panel specimens were further brushed or sprayed with guayule resin solution on all surfaces. To understand the effects of guayule on durability, specimens cut from control and treated panels were subjected to termite resistance and fungal degradation soil block tests. The in-situ specimens with 5.00% guayule were subjected to tensile, internal bond, water absorption, and thickness swelling tests to find out whether guayule affects the mechanical performance of WSB panels. The results showed that in-situ treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the mechanical properties of wood stand-based panels. The sprayed technique resulted in more durable panels, as the mass loss was 2.21% for termites and 3.24% for fungi specimens, which decreased by 76.66% and 80.86%, respectively, when compared to the WSB controls.