MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Microbial decay of wooden structures: actors, activities and means of protection

Summary

Wood is an increasingly popular sustainable building material, but fungi and bacteria can cause significant damage to wooden structures. This review explains how different types of fungi and bacteria decay wood through various mechanisms, describes advanced DNA methods to identify these microorganisms, and outlines practical strategies to protect wood. By combining proper design, chemical treatments, and wood modification techniques, builders can extend the lifespan of wooden structures while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Background

Wood decay fungi and bacteria play crucial roles in natural ecosystems for decomposing lignocellulosic materials and nutrient cycling. However, their activity poses significant challenges to timber durability in construction industries. The susceptibility of wood to wood-decaying microorganisms presents challenges for its sustainable use as a building material.

Objective

This review examines the diversity of microorganisms damaging timber used indoors and outdoors. It discusses traditional and advanced DNA-based, culture-independent sequencing methods for microbial identification. It also provides an overview of wood protection options including design, chemical preservation, and wood modification methods.

Results

White rot, brown rot, and soft rot fungi are primary wood degraders with distinct mechanisms. Multiple bacterial species contribute to wood degradation under anaerobic conditions. Advanced DNA sequencing reveals greater microbial diversity than traditional methods, though reference database limitations affect identification accuracy. Wood protection can be achieved through design, chemical preservatives, thermal modification, acetylation, and furfurylation.

Conclusion

Combining ecological understanding of decay organisms, precise identification methods, and innovative wood protection strategies is essential for long-term, resource-saving wood use. Monitoring programs could help identify problematic species and emerging pests. Multiple wood preservation and modification options exist as environmentally friendly alternatives to extend service life.
  • Published in:Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.1007/s00253-025-13443-z, PMID: 40044964
Scroll to Top