Incidence of decay in creosote-treated Scots pine poles in Ireland

Abstract

Abstract Air-seasoning is a simple method for moisture management in utility poles prior to treatment, but it involves the risk of fungal invasion during drying. These fungi can be eliminated by heat treatment, but fungi surviving in the installed poles are a quality problem. In this context, the incidence of decay fungi was investigated in 963 creosote-treated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) poles of varying ages in a utility system in Ireland. Thirty-seven percent of increment cores removed from the poles contained at least one viable basidiomycete. There was no relationship between pole age or distance above the groundline and fungal isolations. Phlebiopsis gigantea, a white rot fungus, was the most common isolate followed by Neolentinus lepideus and Sistotrema brinkmannii. The results highlight the importance of including a sterilizing process during treatment and maintaining quality controls when purchasing large numbers of poles.