Fungal discoloration of kiln- and air-dried Scots pine lumber in aboveground testing and its assessment by digital image processing
1997
Terziev, N.
Redistribution of water-soluble sugars and nitrogenous compounds by drying increases the nutrient content of the lumber surface. Kiln- and air-drying cause different redistribution of the soluble sugars and nitrogen and differing susceptibilities of the lumber surfaces to mold growth. The present work examined the effect of different drying treatments on fungal growth and consequent discoloration of wood in aboveground testing. Scots pine planks (Pinus sylvestris L.) were dried using a fast and a slow kiln-drying schedule, and also by air-drying. After drying, samples with an original rough-sawn or planed surface were exposed aboveground for 98 days. The discoloration of wood, caused by fungal growth, was assessed visually as well as by digital image analysis The original rough-sawn surfaces of fast-kiln-dried lumber were more susceptible to fungal discoloration than those of slow-kiln-dried and air-dried lumber. Planing of the lumber removed the nutrient-enriched zone at the lumber surface after both fast and slow kiln-drying and decreased the susceptibility to discoloration. The resistance of air-dried lumber to discoloration was not improved by planing, possibly since the zone richest in nutrients was located deeper below the original rough-sawn surface than in kiln-dried material. The results from the field test generally confirmed the earlier laboratory test. Digital image analysis confirmed the results of the visual assessment.
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