3.1.2. Determination of Initial Dry Mass

Series 3 specimens were also soaked in distilled water for 14 days, which was changed 9 times. Ten specimens were dried in an oven at 103 ◦C to constant weight. A moisture coefficient of each material was determined using these measurements. The initial dry mass for the remaining series was calculated by multiplying the moisture coefficient by their weight after soaking in water for 14 days.

### 3.1.3. Preparing Fungi for the Test

A medium of 40 g of malt extract, 35 g of agar and 1000 mL of distilled water was prepared in Kolle flasks. The medium was sterilized in an autoclave at 121 ◦C and 1 atm pressure. After solidifying, the medium was inoculated with hyphae of the fungus *Coniophora puteana*. The flasks were stored in an incubating chamber at 22 ◦C and 70 % humidity until the surface of the medium was completely covered by the mycelium.
