The phrase "agent of decay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing decomposition, environmental science, or metaphorically in literature to describe something that causes deterioration.
Example: "The bacteria acted as an agent of decay, breaking down the organic matter in the compost pile."
Alternatives: "decomposing agent" or "decay catalyst".
This is a serious agent of decay that spreads underground through root grafts after gaining entry via the exposed surface of a felled stump.
We chose trees already decayed as inducing decay in trees can be a slow process, dependent on tree species and the causal agent of decay (Schwarze 2008).
That unoccupied fresh food is apparently the least powerful reward appears plausible, because in a Petri dish assay digging into the substrate, as part of the larvae's attempts to find shelter, is easier if the food is softened by the past-presence or is cracked-up by the efforts of acutely present other larvae (or of any other agent of decay, we hesitate to add).
Bacteria, fungi, and algae are the principal agents of decay, reducing plant and animal residues to their component materials.
These findings confirm that gypsum and halite are important agents of decay in stucco [19, 30].
The data demonstrate that rice straw bale walls are resistant to agents of decay and offer reduced construction time and cost than standard wall construction in north China.
In order to assess the quality of each stone as a building material, it is important to analyse its particular petrographic characteristics and physical properties, as these affect its behaviour when exposed to agents of decay.
This acts against Streptococcus mutans (van Dolleweerd et al., 2003), the main causative agent of tooth decay in the mouth.
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As the major etiological agent of human tooth decay, Streptococcus mutans is particularly well-adapted to growth in oral biofilms, where the intermittent nature of human feeding presents the organisms with a "feast or famine" existence [1].
Better to make a friend of decay.
