The hurdle effect of ureolytic Proteus sp. activity and Trichoderma Viride culture filtrate on growth and wood deteriorating activities of four fungi

A laboratory investigation of the hurdle effect of filtrates of peptone/urea broth culture of ureolytic Proteus sp., potato dextrose broth culture of Trichoderma Viride and their combination; on growth and wood deteriorating activities of Gloeophyllum sepiarium, Gloeophyllum sp., Trametes sp. and Pleurotus sp. was carried out. The 24 h Proteus sp. culture filtrate with pH 8.1 prevented the growth of Gloeophyllum spp. and markedly retarded the other fungi; while T. viride filtrate only markedly retarded the growth of the four fungi on agar plates. A combination of both filtrates not only prevented the growth of all fungi, but indicated a killing effect since the hyphae failed to grow after 7 days on fresh potato dextrose agar. The wood deterioration tests followed a similar trend as biodeterioration was best limited by the combined filtrates. It is concluded that the stresses imposed by high pH due to ureolysis and T. viride inhibitory metabolites were hurdles difficult to overcome by the wood rot fungi.