PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF CRUDE OPEPE (NAUCLEA-DIDERRICHII) TIMBER EXTRACTIVES ON TIMBER BIODETERIORATION

A preliminary laboratory investigation of the effects of opepe timber (Nauclea diderrichii) extractives on biodeterioration of timber was ca rried out using Pleurotus ostreatus, Gloeophyllum sepiarium and Gloeop hyllum sp. as test fungi. The removal of the extractives decreased the decay-resistance of the opepe wood. Impregnation of extracted obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon) wood with ethanolic opepe wood extractives significantly increased decay-resistance. Synergism was observed in th e resistance to deterioration by P. ostreatus in obeche impregnated wi th a mixture of water and ethanol extractives.