Comparative natural durability of five wood species from Mozambique

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the natural durability of five lesser-utilized wood species from Mozambique. Both laboratory methods and field tests were applied for assessing wood decay of muanga ( Pericopsis angolensis), metil ( Sterculia appendiculata), namuno ( Acacia nigrescens), ncurri ( Icuria dunensis), and ntholo ( Pseudolachnostylis maprounaefolia). Laboratory tests involved soft-, brown-, and white-rot fungi and termites. Heart- and sapwood of ncurri and ntholo were exposed in above-ground field tests; additionally, all species were exposed to in-ground contact tests. The results indicated that namuno, muanga, ncurri, and ntholo are resistant to soft-, brown- and white-rot fungi and the termite species Reticulitermes grassea and Mastotermes darwiniensis. Comparatively, soft-rot caused more severe decay on the studied wood species than did basidiomycete fungi. The brown-rot fungi Coniophora puteana, Gloeophiyllum trabeum, and Postia placenta caused less decay on the tested species than did the white-rot Trametes versicolor. Metil was not resistant to any of the mentioned hazards. Therefore, this species is not recommendable for exterior use if untreated.