Assessment of Resistance of Selected Nigerian Wood Species Treated with Rocket Fungicide and Mimosa pudica Linn. extracts against fungal infestation.
Abstract
The study focused on the resistance of Afzelia africana, Vitex doniana and Irvingia gabonensis treated with Rocket fungicide and Mimosa pudica against fungal infestation. Wood samples were obtained from sawmill and processed into 30mm x 30mm x 70mm and dried at temperature of 103±20C for 24 hours and soaked in 500ml of Mimosa pudica and Rocket fungicide for 24 hours. Absorption, retention and visual assessments tests were carried out. It was a 3x3 factorial experiment with three replicates. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics using ANOVA to test for significant difference. Vitex doniana had the highest percentage moisture content of 55.30% among other wood samples that were tested followed by Afzelia africana and least percentage moisture content was found in Irvingia gabonensis (12.79%). Irvingia gabonensis had higher absorption rate ranging from 85.71% to 80.16% for the two treatment methods. Vitex doniana had least absorption rate when treated with M. pudica (27.17%). The result established that there is an interaction effect between the treatment and wood species. Irvingia gabonensis had the highest retention rate of 79.74kg/m3 (M. pudica) followed by treatment with Rocket fungicide (73.74kg/m3). There is a significant difference between the wood species and the treatment methods. Vitex doniana had the least retention rate of 23.46kg/m3 (Rocket fungicide). The extent of protection varied with different treatment methods. Findings show that Mimosa pudica is more effective in treating wood than Rocket fungicide. Extension education should be increased towards educating wood users on the importance of organic preservatives as wood preservatives.
