Decay resistance of plantation-grown Khaya ivorensis to brown-rot and white-rot fungi

2017

English

In Ghana, timber resources have dwindled as a result of over-exploitation of popular commercial species such as African mahogany (Khaya and Entandrophragma spp). For sustainable supply of wood development, government and industry have embarked on an accelerated plantation development programme. It is known, however, that properties of wood from natural stands, including durability, generally differ from wood obtained from plantation-grown timber due to higher proportion of juvenile wood in plantation-grown timber and differences in extractives. The aim of the study was to determine decay resistance of plantation mahogany timber to brown rot (Gloeophyllum trabeum) and white rot (Trametes versicolor) fungi. Tests were conducted according to CEN/TS 15083-1(2005). Mass loss of the specimens was assessed after 16 weeks of exposure to the test fungi. Mass loss as a result of brown rot fungus was 0.47% for plantation-grown wood and 1.51% for naturally-sourced wood. On the other hand, wood from plantation and natural mahogany trees had mass losses of 20.71% and 23.95% respectively, against white rot fungus and were classified as belonging to durability class 4 (slightly durable). Plantation-grown mahogany is therefore not inferior to naturally-grown mahogany and both can be utilized in same conditions.

Appiah-Kubi, E.; Militz, H.; Gellerich, A.; Kankam, C. K.