Culturing wood-degrading erosion bacteria

Wood-degrading erosion bacteria have been successfully cultured from archaeological wood and wood samples of foundation piles. Mixed cultures of bacteria with erosion bacteria present were obtained from a large number of wood samples. The liquid medium used and the conditions for culturing are described. Erosion bacterial activity occurred only in cultures where access to air was limited. Microscopy was used to confirm bacterial degradation of pine wood and kapok fibres.