Promoting fungal pigment formation in wood by utilizing a modified decay jar method.

The role of test block placement within a modified decay jar system for promotion of fungal pigments was investigated. Beech and sugar maple blocks were inoculated with common pigment producing fungi and incubated for 10 weeks. Blocks were placed either below the vermiculite or resting on its surface; no feeder strips were utilized. Amount of pigmentation differed with block placement with Arthrographis cuboidea (on sugar maple and beech) and Xylaria polymorpha (only on sugar maple) producing more pigment when placed on the surface of the vermiculite. The differences in pigmentation, however, were not necessarily due to moisture content differences within test blocks, as moisture content did not vary significantly by block placement with A. cuboidea. Results indicate that placement of wood above vermiculite may increase pigmentation; however, reasons for the increase appear to differ among fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]