<Original>The Natural Resistance of Tropical Woods against Biodeterioration

Abstract

Forty-one tropical wood species (30 Brazilian and 11 Ghanaian species) were tested for their natural resistance against decay fungi using Coriolus versicolor and Tyromyces palustris according to JIS Z 2119, subterranean termites under choice situations using Coptotermes formosanus and wood-destroying borers in the marine environment. Seventeen species of the test materials were resistant against both decay fungi and termites, sustaining less than 1% weight loss. Only 7 of them were also resistant against shipworm attack: Swartzia aptera, Mezilaulus itauba, Dialium aubrcvillei, Erytxrophleum ivorense, Ongokea gore, Manilkara multinervis and Chlorophora excelsa. Further investigation on their extractive will be worthwhile to undurstand the factors involved in the high resistance against biodeterioration.