The ability of natural and synthetic hinokitiol, as well as a water soluble derivative (hinokitiol sodium salt), to protect wood against fungal attack was examined. Synthetic and natural hinokitiol provided similar protection. All three materials exhibited similar antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium citrinum on yellow poplar wafers at...
Bacillus subtilis and essential oils have been explored separately for their ability to limit colonization by wood stain and mold fungi, but neither approach has been completely effective. One alternative strategy would be to combine the bacterial biocontrol with one or more natural products extracts. In this report, the ability...
A solid, crystalline fumigant (dazomet) with and without a supplemental copper compound was evaluated as an internal decay control treatment on Douglas-fir poles in two long-term field tests. Methylisothiocyanate (MITC), the decomposition
product of dazomet, was used as a measure of effectiveness. MITC levels in the wood were above the...
Molds are an increasingly important issue for all building materials, including
wood. While washing with bleach is a commonly recommended method for removing
molds, and the associated discolorations, there is surprisingly little information on the
effectiveness of this treatment. The ability of mold removal treatments to brighten
wood and eliminate...
Heartwood durability of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) was studied as a function of vertical and radial position in boles of trees with a wide range of leaf area/sapwood area ratios. Six 34- year-old trees were harvested from each of three plots established 14 years before: very dense,...
The heartwood of western redcedar (Thuja plicuta) is known for its natural resistance to fungal attack, but some users of western redcedar utility poles have suggested that its durability may be diminished as suppliers begin to harvest trees from younger stands. The decay resistance of western redcedar samples from the...
Wood that is submerged in fresh water for long periods has increased permeability and other changed properties. Wood that is submerged in salt water may absorb considerable quantities of salts, which may render the wood resistant to microbial colonization. In this report, we describe decay tests on Douglas-fir sapwood and...