Integrated protection against lyctid beetle infestations. IV. Resistance of boron-treated wood (Virola spp.) to insect and fungal attack

Samples were taken from 60 freshly sawn boards of banak (Virola spp.) before and after dip-diffusion treatment with a polyborate (TIM-BOR?, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) to determine the efficacy of the treatment for protecting banak from wood-infesting insects and fungi. Both lumber and moulding made from treated lumber were evaluated by laboratory tests. Tests with 60 untreated lumber samples revealed much variation in the natural resistance of banak wood to subterranean termites and brown-rot decay fungi. Nevertheless, results indicate that borate dip-diffusion treatments will protect banak lumber and moulding made from it from Lyctus brunneus (Stephens), the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), and the brown-rot decay fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum (Pers. ex. Fr.) Murr. Wood containing more than 0.3 percent boric acid equivalent (BAE) of sodium borate was protected from R. flavipes, and wood containing more than 0.5 percent BAE was protected from G. trabeum. An undefined level below 0.2 percent BAE was required to protect banak from L. brunneus. Boron treatment did not protect banak lumber from mold fungi or soft-rot decay fungi. The borate treatment is for wood exposed in nonleaching conditions-aboveground use where it is protected by a roof or finish such as paint or water repellent.

You must be logged in to download any documents. Please login (login accounts are free) or learn how to Become a Member