Biology

The area biology at the IHD comprises the areas of mycology and molecular biology as well as wood science/wood anatomy, wood protection and wood modification.

Technical-organisational subdivisions are the Mykolabor Dresden with research and development activities on microbiology/mycology and molecular biology, the Wood Anatomy Laboratory and the Wood Drying/Wood Modification Technical Centre.

Wolfram Scheiding

Dr. rer. silv. 

Wolfram Scheiding

Head of Departement · Wood preservation · Wood modification (TMT) · Building biology · Insulation materials

+49 351 4662 280

+49 162 2696 332

send E-Mail

Molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics

Gel-electrophoresis
Gel-electrophoresis
  • Qualitative and quantitative DNA diagnostics of microorganisms (especially fungi, bacteria, algae) by means of PCR, real-time PCR, PCR-ELISA, DNA array and sequencing (conventional and NGS)
  • Sequence and database analyses (NCBI)
  • Design of PCR primers, array probes and RFLP patterns

Microbiology, mycology, biotechnology

  • Diagnostics of microorganisms (e.g. by cultivation, microscopy)
  • Building biology, indoor hygiene
  • Investigations on mould
  • Further development of biological test methods
  • Biotechnical modification of materials
  • Production and application of enzymes
  • Mushroom cultivation (edible and medicinal mushrooms)
  • Development of substrates for plants and cultivated fungi
  • Development of fungus-based materials
Test cultures (fungi)
Test cultures (fungi)

Material protection against fungi, bacteria and algae

Algae extracts
Algae extracts
  • Efficacy of biocides
  • alternative operating principles in material protection
  • biological resistance of wood, materials and coatings
  • interaction between materials and harmful organisms

Wood anatomy and wood knowledge

  • Macro- and microscopic examinations on wood anatomy
  • Characterisation of wood features and wood properties
  • Deduction of structure-property relationships
  • Microscopic examinations of interfaces (e.g. coatings, glue lines)
  • Wood species identification (leaflet)
  • Wood species identification at wood-based panels (Video)

We need your consent!

This content is provided by YouTube. If you activate the content, personal data will be processed by YouTube and cookies will be set. For more information, please see our data protection declaration.

Activate YouTube content

Wood protection and wood modification

Heartwood decay
Heartwood decay
  • Development and optimisation of materials and measures for wood and material protection
  • Development and adaptation of methods for testing and diagnostics
  • Further development off thermal wood modification
  • standardisation work within DIN and CEN comittees "Durability of Wood and wood products"
  • Collaboration in specialist committees and associations of wood protection
  • Participation in teaching and expert training

This is complemented by the services of the Entwicklungs- und Prueflabor Holztechnologie GmbH (EPH), e.g. determining the durability or effectiveness of biocides and the certification programme "Quality Mark TMT".

Services Biology

Biology

  • Determination of harmful organisms (wood-destroying and discolouring fungi, moulds, bacteria, algae, insects)
  • Molecular biological fungal diagnostics (detection of dry rot fungi, yes/no test dry rot Serpula lacrymans, DNA sequencing)
  • Hygienic or building biology assessment of materials and interiors, mould testing
  • Biological testing (effectiveness of biocides, material resistance, airborne germ collection) is offered by the accredited Biological Testing Laboratory

Wood science

Wood preservation and material protection

  • Damage analyses, wood preservation reports
  • Success control after control measures (sanitation, mould remediation)
  • Kiln drying and thermal modification
  • Humidity-regulated warm air procedure for the control of animal wood destroyers according to WTA 1-1 (disinfestation, stationary chamber)
  • Advice on protection, control and remediation measures
  • Training in the field of wood science and wood protection
  • Information dissemination (TMT leaflets, Technical statement on the use of propiconazole in wood preservatives)
  • Certification programme "Quality Mark TMT"

Technical equipment

  • Mycological laboratory
  • Biomolecular laboratory (DNA extraktion robot), PCR/qPCR cycler, gel electrophoresis, array scanner)
  • Culture collection of microorganisms
  • Device for airborne germ sampling
  • Facilities for field tests in use classes 3 and 4
  • Reflected light microscopes up to 400x, transmitted light microscopes up to 1000x
  • Xylotheque with over 2000 wood species
  • Grinding and polishing equipment for embedding preparations
  • Devices for inspection of constructions (endoscope, drilling resistance measurement)
  • Kiln dryer (2100 mm useful length)
  • Thermokiln (0.75 m³, 1200 mm useful length)

Testing1

Testing2