Community analysis of preservative-treated southern pine (Pinus spp.) using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis. Part 1: Fungal field study

Abstract

The effects of chlorothalonil (CTN), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ammoniacal copper quat (ACQ-C) on the fungal community on southern yellow pine (SYP) were assessed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis over 15 months. Field stakes, treated with 0.25 and 0.37 % ACQ-C, 0.1 and 0.25 % CTN, 2 % BHT alone, 0.1 and 0.25 % CTN combined with 2 % BHT, and untreated controls, were installed in two field sites in Mississippi. Stakes were sampled at 90-day intervals and rated for decay damage. Fungal DNA was extracted and amplified by non-specific (total fungi) and specific (Basidiomycete) primers and processes for T-RFLP. α-Diversity (richness and diversity) and β-diversity (similarity between communities) were calculated by means of T-RFLP data. The presence of wood preservatives slowed the initial colonization of field stakes by total fungi, resulting in lower richness and diversity that increased over time; however, preservatives increased the richness and diversity of Basidiomycetes. The β-diversity of treated samples was less similar in the early stages of exposure (3 – 9 months), but coalesced over time into equilibrium communities that were similar to communities on untreated controls. Basidiomycete species compositions were different among treated samples while control communities shared more than 75 % of their species. Correlations were found between depletion of 0.1 % CTN and increasing fungal diversity, but no other significant correlations were found.

Citation

Kirker, Grant T.; Prewitt, M. Lynn; Schultz, Tor P.; Dieh, Susan V. 2012. Community analysis of preservative-treated southern pine (Pinus spp ) using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis Part 1: Fungal field study. Holzforschung, Volume 66, pp. 521–527, 2012.