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

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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)

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