Comparative natural durability of five wood species from Mozambique

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.