Work

Fungistatic effects of purified conifer tannins against five wood-decaying fungi

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Success of saprotrophic fungi in wood requires resilience against plant defences such as condensed tannins, but few studies quantify variability in fungal tolerance while using well-characterized defence compounds purified from authentic sources. To investigate the antifungal activity of condensed tannins, we quantified the bioactivity of conifer tannins from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) against five saprotrophs. Condensed tannins from conifer barks and from Scots pine needles showed moderate antifungal activities despite their low contents, and tannin structure affected their efficacy against fungi. Fungal sensitivity to condensed tannins was species-specific but did not vary systematically between rot types, indicating that specialization of brown-rot fungi on conifers does not imply better or worse tolerance to conifer tannins compared to non-specialized white-rot fungi. Despite the resilience of some saprotrophs, our analysis suggests generalized antifungal activity of condensed tannins against wood-decaying fungi.

Source: Fungal ecology

DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2026.101499

Authors: Paula Thitz, Maarit Karonen, Aitor Barbero-López, Antti Haapala, Virpi Virjamo

Institutions: University of Turku, University of Eastern Finland

Language: English

Topic: Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500

Funders: Niemi-säätiö, Suomen Metsätieteellinen Seura