Wood Decay Fungi

Dear Colleagues,

The process of wood decay predominantly involves wood-decay fungi which are saprophytes. Saprophytic organisms perform a specific external digestion of substrates, called lysotrophy. They live on various dead or waste organic materials into which the digestive enzymes—ectoenzymes—(lysoenzymes) are secreted, and the digestive processes take place outside the body. Saprotrophs are able to decompose a variety of organic materials, like wood and other durable organic substances. Continuous activity of ectoenzymes decays organic matter into simple substances, such as glucose, which are then absorbed into the hyphae and metabolized.

As a result of lysotrophic nutrition, wood-decay fungi are some of the most robust organisms on earth. They have the highest decomposition potential and are among the most efficient organisms at decomposing complex organic molecules, such as lignocellulose materials, and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. Thus, they are important for mineralization processes and life cycle. Nevertheless, they still have not been sufficiently investigated, especially the mycelium and their physiology. Understanding fungal physiology is crucial for their use in biotechnology–mycotechnology.

Wood-decay fungi are very important for the environment and humans. This Special Issue on Wood-Decay Fungi will be focused on remediation strategies for the reforestation of degraded areas using wood-decay fungi, hazardous-waste management including mycoremediation (fungal bioremediation) of waste-impregnated wood, as well as decomposition of biocides and detoxification of cultural historical and artistic objects. In addition, the focus will be on the use of wood-decay fungi in the medicinal and pharmaceutical industry, in the production of resonant wood processing by myco-technological treatments, in enzymatic wood modification, in nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) production, in plastic waste decomposition, in the production of packaging and insulating material, as well as in other fields of application.

The potential of wood-decay fungi is still underutilized, but a bright future lies ahead. However, further research is required to apply all their potential for environmental protection and human benefit.

Prof. Dr. Franc Pohleven
Guest Editor

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• Wood decay fungi
• Saprophytic organisms
• Lysotrophy, Ectoenzymes
• Fungal physiology
• Life cycle
• Biotechnology – mycotechnology
• Environmental protection