New molecular method for the early detection of wood fungi using DNA in utility wood poles

Presently, there is no direct method for the early detection of fungi in wood samples. With the increase importance of wood decay by micro-organisms in the forest industry, there is a need to develop a test that is fast, easy to use, specific, portable, automate and with a low detection limit. A technique developed in the CIRAD laboratory has all the desire requirements; 1) Using PCR (polymerise chain reaction), the technique is able to specifically amplify a DNA sequence of fungus; 2) it combines the sensitivity and accuracy of the PCR with the use of an international bank of nucleic sequences. This method, of fungi molecular detection, is routinely used in the CIRAD laboratory in order to identify fungi responsible for the production of rot in lumber. The method was used and adapts in order to measure the presence of fungi in wood poles, of different ages, from the distribution network of Hydro-Québec in Canada.