Antifungal properties of some plant extracts used as wood preservatives

Abstract

This study evaluated antifungal resistance of some commercial and environmentally friendly plant extracts. Four different concentrations of mimosa (Acacia mollissima), quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii) and pine (Pinus brutia) bark extracts known with their high condense tannin amounts were used to impregnate Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and poplar (Populus tremula) wood specimens. Extract treated wood specimens were tested against two types of white rot fungi (Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus) and two types of brown rot fungi (Fomitopsis palustris and Gloeophyllum trabeum) for 16 weeks. The lowest mass loss rates were recorded for mimosa and quebracho extract treated wood blocks at the 9% and 12% concentration levels against both white and brown rot fungi. Pine bark extract, on the other hand, seemed to be ineffective against all fungi species tested even at the highest concentration level (12%). The current study suggests that commercial mimosa and quebracho extracts can be utilized as alternative wood preservative chemicals against common wood decay fungi in indoor applications.