A SIMPLE METHOD THAT USES DIFFERENTIAL STAINING AND LIGHT-MICROSCOPY TO ASSESS THE SELECTIVITY OF WOOD DELIGNIFICATION BY WHITE-ROT FUNGI

Cryostat microtome sections of birch wood degraded by white rot fungi were examined by light microscopy after treatment with two stains: ast ra-blue, which stains cellulose blue only in the absence of lignin, an d safranin, which stains lignin regardless of whether cellulose is pre sent. The method provided a simple and reliable screening procedure th at distinguishes between fungi that cause decay by selectively removin g lignin and those that degrade both cellulose and lignin simultaneous ly. Moreover, morphological characteristics specific to selective deli gnification were revealed.