EFFECT OF COMPRESSION OF GREEN WOOD CHIPS ON CONIDIAL GERMINATION ANDCOLONIZATION OF A BIOPULPING FUNGUS, PHANEROCHAETE-CHRYSOSPORIUM

Compression and baling of green wood ships inoculated with a biopulpin g fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium has produced pulps with increased strength properties and reduced energy inputs without the need for st eaming of chips or specialized bioreactor conditions. Use of a contact -agar method to study spore germination has shown that compression of green wood enhances rates of sapwood colonization by two strains of th is white-rot fungus. This response was verified by SEM observation and is thought to occur as a result of parenchyma death during chip compr ession. The colonization of this fungus on softwood chips was also imp roved as a result of compression.