Durability of thermally modified Pinus banksiana (Jack pine) wood against brown and white rot fungi.

The resistance of thermally modified Canadian Pinus banksiana against four wood decaying fungi was evaluated. Wood samples were treated at different temperatures (190, 200 and 210°C) and exposed to three brown rot fungi as well as to a white rot fungus. Results showed that the untreated wood samples lost more weight when exposed to P. placenta, T. versicolor and G. trabeum compared to the weight loss observed in case of C. puteana. Thermal modification at 210°C improved the resistance of Pinus banksiana against G. trabeum and T. versicolor fungi as evident from the fact that reduction in weight loss of wood was found to be 98·3 and 96·3% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]