Investigation of fungal decay of poplar wood treated with pistachio resin

Abstract

The density, swelling, and fungal decay of poplar (Populus deltoides) wood treated with pistachio resin (PR) obtained from Pistacia atlantica were investigated. The white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor and the brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana were used. Methanolic solutions of PR with different concentrations of 1%, 6%, 12%, and 15% were used as the preservative solution. Wood samples were saturated by two different vacuum/pressure (V/P) and dipping methods. The density, volumetric swelling of treated wood, and their mass loss (ML) caused by fungal decay were determined. The density of treated species increased to 15.4% and 5.8% for V/P and dipping methods, respectively, at 15% PR concentration. The volumetric swelling of the treated samples was reduced to 24.5% and 16.8% for V/P and dipping procedure, respectively, at 15% PR concentration. The mass loss of treated samples after exposure to T. versicolor was less than the untreated one (17.4% for V/P and 22.6% for dipping methods at 15% PR concentration). The results showed the better performance of V/P treatment in promotion of wood durability against fungal decay than the dipping method.