Abstract

CARRANZA-V., J.; DI STEFANO-G., J.F.; MARIN-M., W.  and  MATA-H., M.. In vivo and in vitro wood decay of oak (Quercus spp.). Polibotánica [online]. 2019, n.47, pp.59-76. ISSN 1405-2768.  https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.47.5.

Wood decomposition produces a considerable flow of carbon in the ecosystem, but decomposition rates have been observed to change in tropical areas compared with temperate ones, and are affected by the type of wood and the fungal community involved in the process. Several studies have been carried out with oak wood decomposition in temperate zones but they are scarce or lacking in highland tropical areas. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of decay (1-4) of logs and stumps in two neotropical montane forests in Costa Rica, and to observe the decomposition of oak wood samples exposed to selected fungi under laboratory conditions. The most common decay category in the logs and stumps was 1, and it remained that way during the whole study. Xylobolus subpileatus, Hymenochaete rubiginosa, and Trametes versicolor were selected for the decay studies. Twenty-five decay chambers with oak wood samples were inoculated with each fungus. After 4 or 8 months of exposure, wood samples were removed to determine weight loss. Considerable variation was observed in weight loss (2.08-51.06%), depending on the fungi selected. In light of our results, the duration of the oak decay process in these neotropical montane forests is discussed, as well as its carbon contribution to the ecosystem.

Keywords : fungi; wood decomposition; wood; oak; neotropical montane forests; Xylobolus subpileatus; Hymenochaete rubiginosa; Trametes versicolor; decay chambers; Costa Rica.

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