Differentiation of White- and Brown-Rot Fungi by an Oxidase Reaction

Abstract

ALTHOUGH most wood-destroying fungi of the white- and brown-rot type may be differentiated by the Bavendamm test, which depends on the oxidative browning of tannic and gallic acid agar by fungi of the white-rot type, certain inconsistencies in this reaction have been noted by Davidson, Campbell and Blaisdell¹. Recent investigations by me² have shown that fungi of the brown-rot type, and certain species incapable of causing decay under laboratory conditions, also can produce a positive oxidase reaction on these substrates. These inconsistencies were not encountered when wood-meal first treated with ether and acetone to remove the phenolic substances was used as a substrate.