The Distribution of Microorganisms Associated with Decay of Western Red Cedar

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Abstract
The heartwood of old growth western red cedar (Thujaplicatai Donn.) on the British Columbia coast exhibits a rather consistent color pattern surrounding columns of decay. Surrounding the column of laminar decay lies a zone of brown stained wood; to the outside of this one finds a narrower layer of red stained wood, and the outer heartwood is straw-colored. Isolation of microorganisms demonstrated that whereas the outer heartwood was essentially sterile, the red and brown stained sound wood was inhabited by three fungi, two of which were restricted to the inner portion of the brown zone. The typical laminar decay appeared to be caused by Poriaalbipellucida Baxter which was isolated only from a narrow zone at the edge of the sound wood. The central decay column was inhabited by a large number of filamentous fungi, yeasts, bacteria, insects, and plant roots. These results support the hypothesis that decay of western red cedar involves a succession of organisms. Presumably the early invaders destroy the toxic natural extractives present in the heartwood.

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