Eco-Physiology of Wood Decay Fungi: Basics and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Dead wood hosts a variety of fungal species, not only wood structural decomposers including basidiomycetes and xylariaceous ascomycetes, but also mycoparasites and sugar fungi utilizing low-molecular carbohydrates. The functions and interactions of these various fungi shape the decomposition process of dead wood. Typically, wood decay fungi have long been categorized into white-rot and brown-rot fungi, depending on their decay preference for wood structural components—lignin and carbohydrates. Recent molecular studies have revealed the physiological mechanisms of each of the rot-types (decay types), and that they are not separated but in continuum. Further, interactions among fungi affect wood decay because the cost for interaction can alter the decay functions of fungi. Mycoparasites may reduce the decay activities of structural decomposers, whereas the utilization of low-molecular sugars by sugar fungi may facilitate wood decay by structural decomposers by reducing negative feedbacks for enzyme production. As a consequence, the relationships between fungal diversity and decay functions are still debated, and the methods for efficient biological conversion of wood biomass are not well developed yet. This Special Issue will be a collection of original articles and reviews that examine the topics mentioned above. Articles based not only on laboratory incubation and molecular studies, as well as monitoring studies in the field and biogeographical studies are welcome.

Dr. Yu Fukasawa
Guest Editor

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