Wood modification by furfuryl alcohol caused delayed decomposition response in Rhodonia (Postia) placenta

The aim of this study was to investigate differential expression profiles of the brown rot fungus Rhodonia placenta (previously Postia placenta) harvested at several time points when grown on radiata pine (Pinus radiata) and radiata pine with three different levels of modification by furfuryl alcohol, an environmentally benign commercial wood protection system. The entire gene expression pattern of a decay fungus is followed in untreated and modified wood from initial to advanced stages of decay. Results support the current model of a two-step decay mechanism, with expression of genes related to initial oxidative depolymerization followed by accumulation of transcripts of genes related to hydrolysis of cell-wall polysaccharides. The wood decay process is finished, and the fungus goes into starvation mode after five weeks when grown on unmodified radiata pine wood. The pattern of repression of oxidative processes and oxalic acid synthesis found in radiata pine at later stages of decay is...