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Rotten wood, SEM
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Rotten wood, SEM
Rotten wood. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a piece of domestic plywood infected with dry rot fungus. The structure of the wood is seen here, with large spaces (xylem vessels) and smaller spaces (xylem parenchyma). Thin threads (yellow) are the fungal hyphae that are destroying the wood by digesting the cellulose that provides the wood with its structural support. Dry rot is a fungus (Serpula lachrymans) that infects damp timber
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Media ID 6292041
© DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Cellulose Dry Rot Eumycota Fungal Fungi Fungus Hyphae Mycology Parenchyma Rotten Rotting Wood Xylem False Coloured Micro Biology Microbiological Plywood
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the destructive beauty of nature's decay. In this false-colored scanning electron micrograph, we are granted a microscopic view into the world of rotten wood. The piece of domestic plywood is infected with dry rot fungus, Serpula lachrymans, which thrives in damp timber. The intricate structure of the wood is laid bare before our eyes. We can observe large spaces known as xylem vessels and smaller spaces called xylem parenchyma. These components play a crucial role in providing structural support to the wood. However, it is the thin threads of yellow fungal hyphae that steal the spotlight in this image. Like tiny devourers, they meticulously digest cellulose—the very substance that gives wood its strength—causing it to crumble and deteriorate over time. This photograph serves as a reminder of nature's ability to both create and destroy. It highlights the delicate balance between life and decay within our ecosystem. While visually stunning, it also prompts us to appreciate the importance of maintaining dry conditions for timber preservation. Through this lens into microbiological wonders, we gain insight into mycology—an intriguing branch of biology dedicated to studying fungi—and deepen our understanding of their impact on various materials such as plywood. Captured by Science Photo Library using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), this print invites us to marvel at nature's relentless cycle while reminding us that even beauty can emerge from decomposition.
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