The photosynthetic growth of living trees sequesters carbon and predominantly stores it in woody tissue. This storage continues when wood materials are utilized in our society, e.g. for construction. Moreover, wood materials can substitute energy-intensive materials such as concrete and steel, and thereby reduce carbon emissions from the production of these materials. The greatest benefits in terms of carbon storage and emission reductions from material substitution arise when wood materials have a long service life.
As a biological material, wood can be decomposed by a variety of organisms. The decomposition of wood requires, however, the right environmental conditions of which sufficient moisture is fundamental. Thus, keeping wood dry is a superior strategy for obtaining a long service life, but can be a challenging strategy in outdoor applications. In these situations, the durability of the wood material is important. Many tree species form durable wood in the core of the stem (i.e. heartwood), but most of the wood used for construction is not very durable. Instead, impregnation with biocides has traditionally been used to deter attacks from decomposing organisms, thereby improving the durability. Wood modification is a modern, non-toxic way of improving durability without the environmental hazards related to the use of biocides. Those wood modifications that reduce the amount of moisture in the wood cell walls have been found to improve the durability in various outdoor environments.
This Research Topic focuses on the decomposition of wood in various environments as well as methods for predicting, preventing, or delaying decomposition. We welcome submissions of original research papers and state-of-the-art reviews that advance our understanding of wood decomposition and how it can be predicted, prevented, or delayed. This includes (but is not limited to) research within the following themes:
- The role of moisture in decomposition mechanisms
- Decomposition mechanisms, e.g. chemistry of the fungal secretome or chemical changes in wood under decomposition
- Mechanisms of protection in naturally durable wood species
- Understanding or modeling of wood decomposition in different environments, e.g. in ground contact or marine environments
- Novel methods for preventing or delaying wood decomposition, e.g. wood modification or surface protection
The photosynthetic growth of living trees sequesters carbon and predominantly stores it in woody tissue. This storage continues when wood materials are utilized in our society, e.g. for construction. Moreover, wood materials can substitute energy-intensive materials such as concrete and steel, and thereby reduce carbon emissions from the production of these materials. The greatest benefits in terms of carbon storage and emission reductions from material substitution arise when wood materials have a long service life.
As a biological material, wood can be decomposed by a variety of organisms. The decomposition of wood requires, however, the right environmental conditions of which sufficient moisture is fundamental. Thus, keeping wood dry is a superior strategy for obtaining a long service life, but can be a challenging strategy in outdoor applications. In these situations, the durability of the wood material is important. Many tree species form durable wood in the core of the stem (i.e. heartwood), but most of the wood used for construction is not very durable. Instead, impregnation with biocides has traditionally been used to deter attacks from decomposing organisms, thereby improving the durability. Wood modification is a modern, non-toxic way of improving durability without the environmental hazards related to the use of biocides. Those wood modifications that reduce the amount of moisture in the wood cell walls have been found to improve the durability in various outdoor environments.
This Research Topic focuses on the decomposition of wood in various environments as well as methods for predicting, preventing, or delaying decomposition. We welcome submissions of original research papers and state-of-the-art reviews that advance our understanding of wood decomposition and how it can be predicted, prevented, or delayed. This includes (but is not limited to) research within the following themes:
- The role of moisture in decomposition mechanisms
- Decomposition mechanisms, e.g. chemistry of the fungal secretome or chemical changes in wood under decomposition
- Mechanisms of protection in naturally durable wood species
- Understanding or modeling of wood decomposition in different environments, e.g. in ground contact or marine environments
- Novel methods for preventing or delaying wood decomposition, e.g. wood modification or surface protection
