Serpula lacrymans, Wood and Buildings

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Plant Pathology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Serpula lacrymans is the primary agent of dry rot timber decay in buildings.
• Its destructiveness stems from rapid mycelial colonization and aggressive wood cellulose degradation.
• The fungus belongs to the Boletales clade of Basidiomycete fungi.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the evolution and enzymic repertoire of Serpula lacrymans using genomic methods.
• To understand the fungus's distinctive mode of brown rot wood decay.
• To model the mycelium as a resource-supply network using novel imaging techniques for nutrient translocation.

Main Methods:

• Genomic analysis to study fungal evolution and enzymic capabilities.
• Novel imaging techniques to visualize nutrient translocation within the mycelium.
• Modeling of mycelial networks as resource-supply systems.

Main Results:

• Genomic studies revealed the evolutionary history and enzyme systems of Serpula lacrymans.
• The fungus exhibits a distinctive brown rot wood decay mechanism.
• Mycelial nutrient translocation was modeled as a highly responsive resource-supply network.

Conclusions:

• Dry rot caused by Serpula lacrymans can be prevented by maintaining dry timber conditions.
• In established dry rot outbreaks, mycelial spread can be inhibited by targeting nutrient translocation.
• Understanding nutrient transport offers new strategies for controlling this destructive timber decay fungus.