Advances in detection and identification of wood rotting fungi in timber and standing trees

Wood rotting fungi are reported as a major source of economic losses in both timber production and wood in service, and one of the main causes of tree wind throws and limb failures. Since the biology of these fungi is varied, their detection and identification are important for the application of appropriate management strategies and control measures. Following an overview of traditional and biochemical diagnostic techniques, whose usefulness is frequently limited either by their reliance on the sporadically emerging and rarely visible fruit bodies, or by the need of a preliminary isolation step, we discuss on DNA-based techniques that have been developed to detect and early identify wood rotting fungi in timber and in standing trees.