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Attack of the artillery fungus on vinyl siding
Author(s) -
Grossman Richard F.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of vinyl and additive technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.295
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1548-0585
pISSN - 1083-5601
DOI - 10.1002/vnl.20039
Subject(s) - artillery , adhesive , spore , pigment , layer (electronics) , materials science , composite material , chemistry , botany , biology , organic chemistry , archaeology , geography
The artillery fungus, Sphaerobolus stellatus, ejects dark‐colored spores for a distance of several meters. These are enclosed in an adhesive layer comprised of carotenoid pigments. On exposure to sunlight, the pigment layer resinifies and develops a strong bond to vinyl siding capstock. The damage is compounded when the homeowner removes the bonded spores abrasively, destroying the protective capstock layer. Strategies to protect vinyl siding or to defeat the microorganism are discussed. J. VINYL. ADDIT. TECHNOL., 11:63–64, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers