The scientific, artistic, and practical applications of sub-lethal fungicide levels in wood exposed to fungi

This dissertation attempted to broaden the aesthetic understanding of nonuniform wood products and challenge preconceived notions of functionality in spalted wood. This was achieved through increasing the published body of literature on spalting, and by developing processes to utilize spalted wood for both service and decorative applications. In addition, the further refinement of laboratory spalting techniques allows for a return to historical uses of uniform wood, and provides the audience with an opportunity to contrast the control of laboratory environmental conditions from a scientific and artistic perspective.;The scientific research detailed within this dissertation covers a broad range of topics, however, it is centered on the use of sub-lethal levels of fungicides in wood to enhance fungal pigmentation for artistic purposes. The role of wood preservatives, primarily copper II (in the form of copper sulfate), in the stimulation of Trametes versicolor, Xylaria polymorpha, Ceratocystis virescens, Ceratocystis pilifera (= Ophiostoma piliferum -- see Appendix 1), and Arthrographis cuboidea was investigated. The possible stimulatory effects of co-biocides were also investigated on the copper-tolerant fungus Postia placenta. In general, contact with sub-lethal levels of copper sulfate appears to stimulate zone line production in Xylaria polymorpha, and alter the color of pigment produced by Arthrographis cuboidea. Under dual-inoculation conditions, Arthrographis cuboidea produces pink zone lines when grown concurrently with Xylaria polymorpha on copper sulfate treated wood. Tebuconazole, a co-biocide utilized to control copper-tolerant fungi, is probably stimulatory to Postia placenta at sub-lethal loadings.;In addition to the aforementioned research, this dissertation also sought to determine ideal growing conditions for pigment fungi to increase the production of pigmentation. It was found that Xylaria polymorpha will only produce zone lines when incubated in vermiculite in laboratory testing, unless under the influence of copper sulfate. In addition, Xylaria polymorpha produces more zone lines when grown on Acer saccharum and Populus tremuloides than on Betula alleghaniensis and Tilia americana, although increasing culture age decreased the number of zone lines produced. With Chlorociboria spp., colonization occurred preferentially on Populus tremuloides over several other commonly spalted hardwoods, although xylindein production was probably increased by pre-treating the wood with a white-rot fungus.