Biodegradation of Pinus radiata softwood by white- and brown-rot fungi

The weight and component losses of Pinus radiata wood after decay by six sp ecies of white-rot and two species of brown-rot fungi for periods varying f rom 30 to 360 days were evaluated. Three groups of decayed wood samples wer e identified based on the principal component analysis (PCA) of the data on their weight and component losses. Selective lignin degradation was produc ed by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Punctularia atropurpurascens within d ifferent periods, the longest one lasting 90 days, and also by Merulius tre mellosus after 90 days of biodegradation. Comparing the data on biodegradat ion of P. radiata by Trametes versicolor with the ones reported for biodegr adation of Eucalyptus globulus and E. grandis indicated that P. radiata is as susceptible to wood decay by this white-rot fungus as the two types of h ardwood.