MECHANISM OF BROWN-ROT DECAY - PARADIGM OR PARADOX

Interest in understanding how brown-rot fungi degrade wood has receive d increasing attention in recent years because of a need to identify n ovel targets that can be inhibited for the next generation of antifung al wood preservatives. Brown-rot fungi are unique in that they can deg rade holocellulose (cellulose and hemicellulose) in wood without first removing the lignin. Furthermore, they degrade holocellulose in an un usual manner, causing a rapid decrease in degree of polymerization at low weight loss. Despite increased research effort, the mechanism of b rown-rot decay remains unclear. Furthermore, this research has not poi nted to biochemical targets for inhibition and development of new wood preservatives. In reviewing the brown-rot literature, it became appar ent that many beliefs about brown-rot decomposition of wood are based more on tradition or conjecture than on facts. In some cases, these mi sconceptions have become near dogma. They cloud our understanding of b rown-rot decay and as a result may contribute to a misdirection of res earch efforts. The purpose of this paper is to attempt to identify and clarify some of these misconceptions. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Limited.