Abstract
In a 4-week trial, the influence of glycerol and the incubation period on the ability of Bacillus subtilis to protect Pinus ponderosa sapwood against the wood-staining fungus Ophiostoma picea was investigated. The severity of the discoloration and the enzyme activity were significantly reduced in the samples with the bacteria compared to samples without bacteria. Although the engraftment was low, the bacteria could not completely inhibit the fungal staining. Treatment with bacteria showed less adulteration at 48 hours than at 96 hours, and the differences were significant. The bacteria also had a great influence on the enzyme activity. The effect of biological protection was affected by the use of different amounts of glycerin, but the results with respect to a specific enzyme were not consistent across the different treatments.