ABSTRACT

 This study isolated, characterized and identified microorganisms involved in wood degradation. A total of six bacterial and four fungal isolates were found to be responsible for the deterioration of the wood samples. These microorganisms were isolated using the streak plate technique. The bacteria species were identified using morphological and biochemical characterization included; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aurues, Klebsiella species, Clostridium species, Bacillus species, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor alteraria and Rhodotoru/a spp. This study revealed increased microbial counts on the wood samples. Among the five (5) used wood samples investigated for microbial deterioration, Ash wood had the highest bacteria count at 7.6x10''cfu/g, followed by Beech wood 6.7x10''cfu/g, while the least was recorded for Veneer 4.1x10'cfu/g. The fungi count showed that Ash wood had the highest count at 4.7 xI0''cfu/g, while Beach wood recorded the least fungi counts at 2.1 x 10 cfu/g. Escherichia coli was the most predominant specie with a percentage value of 38.8%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (22.2%) while the least bacteria specie isolate was recorded for Klebsiella spp and Clostridium species at 11.1 % each. Among the fungal isolates, 4spergillus niger 3(37.5 %), was seen to be the most predominant and frequently occurring isolates in the wood types, followed by Rhodotorula spp 2(25.0%), Mucor spp 2(25.0%) and Aspergi//us fumigatus 1(12.5%). The extracellular enzymes activities for isolate revealed that Bacillus spp was found to be the highest enzymes producing isolate, which was characterized (+++) Excellent. This was follow by Staphylococcus aureus which showed very good enzyme activity, characterized by (++). Among the fungal species screened for enzyme production, Aspergi/lus niger and Aspergillus fumigates demonstrated very good enzyme activity, which was characterised by (++). Therefore, I recommend that more studies and researches should be conducted to determine other bacteria and fungi species associated with wood deterioration. I also recommend the manufacture more fonnulations that will reduce the spoilage of wood by microorganisms