Biological resistance of Phoenician juniper wood

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the biological resistance of Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea L.) wood against two fungal species. Two sources of wood materials were used, one from a naturally grown population and the other from a cultivated area on the island of Syros in Cyclades, Greece. The study tested sapwood and heartwood from both sources against cultures of Coniophora puteana and Rhodonia placenta basidiomycetes. The heartwood from both sources was categorised as class 1: very durable, whereas the sapwood from both sources was classified as class 5: not durable due to their high susceptibility to both C. puteana and R. placenta. The mass loss of the heartwood showed only a small variation due to the activity of fungi, while the variability for sapwood was higher. Comparing the biological resistance of cultivated and natural J. phoenicea wood, no significant differences in their heartwood or sapwood were revealed.

KEYWORDS:

• Durability
• brown-rot
• Coniophora puteana
• Rhodonia placenta

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Evangelia Agnantopoulou and the Forest Administration of Cyclades islands for their valuable contribution regarding sample collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).