Bacterial associations with decaying wood: a review

Wood-inhabiting bacteria are associated with wood decay and may have an indirect influence on the decay process. Bacteria are able to affect wood permeability, attack wood structure, or work synergistically with other bacteria and soft-rot fungi to predispose wood to fungal attack. Bacteria that can inhabit chemically treated wood are recognized. The natural ability of certain bacterial genera to decompose creosote, mineralize pentachlorophenol, and tolerate chromated-copper-arsenate (CCA-)-treated wood is discussed with respect to their role in the biodegradation of chemically preserved waste-wood products.