• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2020

Chemical modification of wood is an effective method to enhance the biological durability of wood with no toxic effect on the environment. In this study, wood of Triplochiton scleroxylon was modified using acetylation techniques. A total of one hundred wood blocks, (each 20×20×60 mm) obtained from a 22-year old T. scleroxylon tree were conditioned and acetylated at 120℃ in a bioreactor containing acetic anhydride for 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 minutes. The percentage weight gain of acetylated wood was determined. The untreated (control) and treated blocks were exposed to Pleurotus ostreatus (white rot fungus) and Fibroporia vaillanti (brown rot fungus) after which moisture content (MC) and weight loss (WL) was monitored for 16 weeks. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p<0.05 level of significance. The percentage weight gain of acetylated wood samples increased with time from 10.4% (60 minutes) to 22.7% (300 minutes). MC of untreated blocks inoculated with Pleurotus ostreatus was significantly higher than those of Fibroporia vaillantii after 16 weeks exposure. There was no significant difference in the MC of the of the acetylated samples for the two fungi after 300 minutes reaction time. The WL of untreated blocks inoculated with Fibroporia vaillantii was higher than those of Pleurotus ostreatus, however, the two fungi showed no significant difference in the WL for the acetylated samples after 16 weeks exposure. Acetylation prevents moisture absorption and inhibition of fungi growth in acetylated wood compared to untreated wood, thereby enhancing the durability of Triplochiton scleroxylon.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.322-329
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• 2017

As a result of contemporary environmental concerns, a number of studies from plants' tissues as one of the alternatives to conventional chemicals are increasingly investigated. In tandem with these trends, Lagenaria breviflora (LB) fruit, reputed as antiviral and depilatory agents in the Yoruba folkloric medicine was examined on Vitex doniana wood to ascertain its antifungal activity. Fungicides of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% LB fruits formulations (concentrations) were developed through simple one-step mechanical-forming process, including control. In this study, the yield, the chemical compositions, the absorption capacity of the fungicides and wood weight losses (WWL) analysis were evaluated to investigate the antifungal activity of LB fruit on wood. The fruit extract yielded 35.4% of fresh juice weight. LB fruits contained total: alkaloids ($8.78{\pm}0.21mg/mL$), flavonoids ($2.01{\pm}0.02mg/mL$), phenol ($7.42{\pm}0.09mg/mL$), saponins ($11.00{\pm}0.10mg/mL$) and tannins ($5.47{\pm}0.05mg/mL$) contents. All the formulations provided effective protection against the tested wood fungi compared to control. Interestingly, the antifungal activity of 50% and 25% formulations of 6.8% WWL and 9.9% WWL satisfied the excellent fungal resistance class description against white rot fungus (Ganoderma lucidum) and brown rot fungus (Fibroporia vaillantii), respectively according to ASTM D 2017. These results thus, support LB fruit as a strong potential source of natural antifungals for industrial wood production.

• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.256-273
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• 2010

A checklist is presented concerning the species composition of Hymenomycetes (Aphyllophorales s.l.) and Heterobasidiomycetes in Israel based on data of previous studies and field sample collections. In total, 242 species are presented, of which five are new records for the Israeli mycobiota, namely Australohydnum dregeanum, Ceriporiopsis consobrina, C. resinascens, Fibroporia vaillantii, and Postia inocybe. The distribution and habitat of each species in Israel are also summarized. This checklist will serve as valuable data for future species diversity studies of these fungi in Israel.