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Phenolic Extractives in Norway Spruce and Their Effects on Fomes annosus. Louis Shain, Senior Research Scientist, Division of Forest Products, CSIRO, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205, Australia; W. E. Hillis, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Division of Forest Products, CSIRO, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205, Australia. Phytopathology 61:841-845. Accepted for publication 17 February 1971. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-61-841.

Lignans in sound and Fomes annosus-affected tissues of Norway spruce were analysed by gas liquid chromatography. Hydroxymatairesinol, matairesinol, liovil, and conidendrin were identified in sound heartwood, and the reaction zone separating sound sapwood from wood incipiently decayed by F. annosus. The reaction zone contained up to 6% hydroxymatairesinol on a dry weight basis; this was considerably more hydroxymatairesinol than was found in the heartwood. Sound sapwood and wood in advanced stages of decay contained negligible quantities of lignans. Hydroxymatairesinol was significantly more inhibitory to F. annosus than was matairesinol or conidendrin in vitro. It is proposed that hydroxymatairesinol in association with alkalinity in the reaction zone contributes to the resistance of the sapwood to F. annosus in vivo.