Biological Evaluation of Fungal Deteriorated Archeological Wood (Islamic Period) and the Impact of Using Some Fungicides

EIGHTY SEVEN fungal isolates were obtained from the surface of biodeteriorated ceiling wood (No.1803, 1539) from the Islamic museum, Cairo, Egypt (Islamic period). Isolates belonging to eight main genera of fungi were identified, in the following frequencies: Acremonium 2.3%, Alternaria 11.5%, Aspergillus 37.8%, Botryotrichum 2.3%, Epicoccum 3.5%, Fusarium 6.9%, Penicillium 29.9% and Stemphylium 5.7%. In a series of trials , cellulase production was maximal for all fungal strains when grown on medium containing 4-6 % of wood straw ( at pH 4.5-5 after 1015 days at 30°C, whereas the maximum production of pectinase was attained on medium containing 6% wood straw at pH 4.5-5 after 1015 days at 30°C -35°C.
Application of the fungicides dichloroxylenol, paracresol and pentachlorophenol are recommended for use at 1000, 500 and 1000 ppm respectively, based on protection of artificially infected wood. Infected wood lost 40.1% of its bending strength, but showed increased density and water absorption compared with non infected wood. The lowest bending strength loss was attained with dichloroxylenol( 14.5%) followed by wood treatment with pentachlorophenol or paracresol (34.2%).