Although the fungistatic properties of caffeine (1.3.7-trimethylxanthine) have been well recognized, this compound has never been applied to effectively protect wood against fungal attack. This fact has prompted us to determinate the resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) treated with a caffeine solution together with selected fungicides, to soft rot fungi. Wood samples were impregnated by vacuum method. The soft rot fungal resistance was evaluated following the standard ENv 807 by using 40 replicates per treatment of solution (2% caffeine and fungicides as 1% benzyldimethyldodecylammonium chloride, 1% CuSO4, 1% copper/chromium preservative, 2% propiconazole and 0.25% propiconazole). After 8, 16, 24 and 32 weeks of exposure, 10 specimens were withdrawn and dry weight was measured to determine the mass loss. Results showed that preparation composed of caffeine and propiconazole was very effective in suppressing the growth of tested fungi (2.4%).
Keywords: soft rot, ENv 807, caffeine, fungicide
Authors
Kwasniewska-Sip P.
Poznan University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Wood Technology, Institute of Chemical Wood Technology
Cofta G.
Poznan University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Wood Technology, Institute of Chemical Wood Technology
Lukaszewska M.B.
Poznan University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Wood Technology, Institute of Chemical Wood Technology
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