On the Effect of Electricity upon the Growth of Wood-destroying Fungi

Abstract

With Poria vaporaria (PERS.) FR., Polystictus sanguineus (L.) FR., and Schizophyllum commune FR. as test fungi, experiments were carried out for determining the checking effect of electricity upon the growth of wood-destroying fungi. Electric current (direct, alternating, and high-frequency) was run
(1) through a piece of wood placed upon a fungous mat which has been reared on culture medium,
(2) through the fungi inoculated upon culture medium,
(3) through the fungi cultivated upon a piece of wood.
The results were as follows:
(1) electric current had a checking effect upon the growth of fungi,
(2) the fungi were destroyed at a spot where density of current was great,
(3) direct current had a greater effect than alternating current,
(4) high-frequency current could not be expected to have a very great effect.
As the causes of such a checking effect of current may be mentioned (i) heat, (ii) production of toxic substances due to electrolysis, (iii) movement of charged substances and migration of nutritive elements due to electro-endosmose, and (iv) destructive action. The results of test have shown, however, that (i) and (ii) are not so effective as to check the growth of the fungi. From the fact that the colouring matter was segregated out of the cells of Polystictus sanguineus (L.) FR., it seems that the electro-endosmose greatly affects the growth of the fungi.