DECAY RESISTANCE AND CHANGES IN CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF TWO FAST-GROWING TREE SPECIES NEOLAMARKCIA CADAMBA AND OCHROMA PYRAMIDALE

Abstract

"In the present study, the decay resistance and the changes in the amounts of chemical components of wood as a consequence of decay by Fomitopsis palustris and Trametes versicolor were investigated for two tropical fast-growing tree species – Neolamarckia cadamba and Ochroma pyramidale. Decay tests were conducted according to Japanese Industrial Standards K1571: 2010. The amounts of the extractives, holocellulose and lignin were determined for wood specimens after 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation. Neolamarckia cadamba wood underwent higher mass loss when decayed by F. palustris, compared to T. versicolor, while O. pyramidale showed the opposite results. All of the main chemical components of the wood started to degrade on the 30th day of incubation, indicating that N. cadamba and O. pyramidale wood is vulnerable to attacks by both types of fungi. In addition, during the decay period, the patterns of degradation that the chemical components of wood exhibited differed from one species to another."