Evaluation of fungal capacity for detoxification of extractives in Scots pine sapwood

Ninety wood-inhabiting fungi were screened for their ability to degrade and detoxify acetone extractives in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood u nder solid-state fermentation conditions. Fungal degradation of resin acids and long-chain fatty acids was investigated by high pressure liquid chroma tography with evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-ELSD) and the to xicity of the acetone soluble fraction of wood measured by Microtox assay. Discriminant analysis of data showed different patterns of extractive detox ification for white-rot basidiomycetes and sapstain fungi. The major detoxi fication skills of basidiomycetes appeared to be related to the highest deg radation of resin acids, and particularly dehydroabietic acid. Among them, Ischnoderma benzoinum, Stereum sanguinolentum and Trametes versicolor great ly reduced the sapwood toxicity due to acetone extractives from the EC50 va lue of 0.08 mg wood ml(-1) to levels between 5-10 mg wood ml(-1).