Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 18, 2025

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials
Published on: May 16, 2022
Resistance of Cereal-Husk-Reinforced PVC Terrace Profiles to Agaricomycetes Fungi
Mariia Goron1, Ewa Sudoł1, Ewelina Kozikowska1
1Construction Materials Engineering Department, Instytut Techniki Budowlanej, 00-611 Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
Plant-particle-reinforced polymer composite products are widely used in construction. New terrace profiles, reinforced with oat or millet husks, are being considered. However, their resistance to wood-decomposing Agaricomycetes fungi requires investigation due to their intended environmental exposure. Susceptibility to Coniophora puteana, Coriolus versicolor, and Gleophyllum trabeum was tested. Well-known rice-husk-reinforced profiles were used as the reference material for the analysis. The bioresistance of the oat-husk-reinforced profiles was similar to that of the reference profile. Minor mycelium development and changes in the surface morphology, mass, and flexural strength were found. Millet husk-reinforced profiles showed greater fungal susceptibility, questioning their suitability for the intended application. Coniophora puteana was the most aggressive among all the profiles.

