Influence of Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd on physical and mechanical properties of two poplar wood species (Populus spp.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of white rot fungus (Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd) on physical and mechanical properties of treated and untreated poplar wood (Populus deltoides Marshall and P. nigra L.). Heat treatment was used as wood modification. Heat-treated and untreated poplar wood specimens were evaluated after exposing to the white rot fungus for 16 weeks. The evaluated properties was included: laccase activity, mass loss, density changes, impact strength and compression strength parallel to grain due to thermal modification and also fungus efficiency. Evaluation of lacase activity showed more efficiency of this enzyme in controls in compared to modified specimens in which also caused more mass loss. In both two poplar wood species, thermal modification reduced the density and the impact strength of the specimens, but improved the compression strength parallel to grain. Evaluation of physical and mechanical properties of the specimens exposed to white rot fungus also showed that thermal modification limits efficiency of this fungus on both poplar wood species. As a result, the reductions in the studied physical and mechanical properties, including mass loss, density, compression strength parallel to grain, and impact strength, were significantly more pronounced in the control group than the modified specimens.