The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of selected fungi and their combinations on the aesthetic discoloration of beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.), known as spalting. The fungal species included in the study were Xylaria longipes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Trametes versicolor, and Hypoxylon fragiforme. Initially, the growth of individual fungal strains and their mutual interactions were analyzed on agar medium, followed by the main experiment involving exposure of wooden samples to fungal colonization. After incubation, the samples were analyzed using an Olympus DSX1000 digital microscope, a hyperspectral imaging (Clyde HSI), and a Micro Combi Tester MCT3 system for determining micromechanical surface properties of wood. The results showed differences among fungal combinations in the intensity of discoloration, formation of zone lines, and degree of surface degra-dation. The most pronounced changes occurred in combinations exhibiting stron-ger antagonistic interactions, where localized darkening and melanized areas deve-loped. However, most wooden samples did not develop distinct spalting patterns with well-defined zone lines, likely due to limited incubation time, uneven fungal colonization, and specific growth conditions. The study confirms that interspecific fungal interactions play an important role in the formation of aesthetic changes in wood and that the development of a repeatable and controlled spalting process requires careful regulation of growth conditions and appropriate selection of fungal combinations.
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