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Comparative Study on Natural Durability of Mango (mangifera Indica) and Raintree (albizia Saman) Wood in Fungal and Field Test

Md. Muktarul Islam
Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Md. Obaidullah Hannan*
Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Md. Wasiul Islam
Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper deals with intended to determine the decay resistance of mango (Mangifera indica) and raintree (Albizia saman) wood in fungal and field test. In fungal test, a white rot fungus (Schizophyllum commune) was used in laboratory. The average weight loss of Mangifera indica and Albizia saman wood blocks inoculated with a white rot fungus (Schizophyllum commune) for 16 weeks were 35.28% and 23.80% respectively. In field test the average weight loss were 42.36% and 28.54% respectively for M. indica and A. saman wood. In both test, degradation was higher in M. indica wood compared to A. saman wood. Thus, natural durability of A. saman wood is higher than that of M. indica wood. It is evident that M. indica wood under perishable class and A. saman wood falls under non-durable class according to natural durability classification.

Keywords: Mangifera indica, Albizia saman, Schizophyllum commune, Weight loss, Natural durability

Location: A sawmill nearby Khulna University campus

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Mango, Rain tree

Objectives:

Mango (Mangifera indica) and raintree (Albizia saman) are available in Bangladesh and widely used as low cost timber species. However, these two species have little natural resistance ability against decay under exposed condition. In general, natural durability has been evaluated by exposing wood samples to the decay agents for various periods and rating the resultant degree of degradation. The objective of this study is to determine the natural durability of these two species against Schizophyllum commune in laboratory and against a decay hazardous condition in the field and thus to make a comparison of their decay resistance.

Methodology:

Collection and preparation of wood samples: Wood samples of Mangifera indica and Albizia saman were collected from a sawmill nearby Khulna University campus. For each tree species, twenty wood blocks of 1.9 × 1.9 × 1.9 cm. were prepared to test against decay fungus (Schizophyllum commune) in the laboratory and twenty wood samples of 15 × 5 × 2.5 cm were prepared for field test.

Incubation of wood blocks into culture bottles: The fungus was collected from the pure culture in the laboratory. Growth of S. commune was developed on to malt agar (2% MA) medium on Petri dishes and the test fungus was then grown up in sterilized bottles on same media to establish an active mycelium. The wood blocks of each species were dried in oven at 103ºC ± 2ºC until constant weight to determine dry weight (initial weight, Mo). Then the wood blocks were sterilized (autoclaved) and exposed to actively growing pure culture of S. commune in bottles. The bottles were incubated for 16 weeks at 25°C and 70% relative humidity (RH).

Installation of wood samples for field test: The wood samples of each species were oven dried and installed in the test yard for 16 weeks. Termite activity and level of damage to the test samples was recorded at the intervals of 4 weeks by visual observation. Samples were reinstalled in their respective positions after each inspection.

Calculation of weight loss: At the end of the exposure (after 16 weeks), the samples were withdrawn both from the culture bottles and the field. The test blocks were carefully brushed off the fungal mats (mycelia) and the test samples were properly washed, and then oven dried to constant weight (final weight, M). The weight loss due to decay was calculated as the difference between dry weight of each wood sample before and after the tests. The weight loss was expressed as a percentage of dry weight loss using the following formula:

Loss of weight in wood (%) = [(Mo-M)/Mo] x 100 (Amusant et al., 2005).

Mo = Oven dry weight of wood prior to the decay less

M = Oven dry weight of wood after the decay test.

Source of Information: Khulna University Studies, 9(2): 191-196, 2008

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The natural durability of A. saman wood blocks is higher than that of M. indica wood in both fungal and field test. M. indica wood is particularly susceptible to decay which can be classed as perishable and A. saman can be treated as non-durable wood. The natural durability of A. saman wood in comparison to M. indica wood is higher may be due to the presence of a wide variety of toxic extraneous materials in A. saman wood. Therefore, to maximize the service life of these two species, preservative treatment must be given before end uses.

Knowledge Management: Journal