Effect of Heat Treatment on Decay Resistance of Pinus Roxburghii Wood against Decaying Fungi

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of heat treatment on fungal resistance of chir pine (Pinus o roxburghii) wood. Heat treatment of wood was done at three different temperatures (160, 180 and 210 C) for 0.5, 3, 5, and 24 h in vacuum oven under N atmosphere. Fungal resistance was determined by exposing the heat treated 2 specimens to wood decaying fungi, Oligoporus placentus (brown rot) and Trametes versicolor (white rot) through soil block bioassay test in the laboratory. Heat treatment showedremarkable protection to chir pine wood against both the test fungi. It was also observed that heat treatment showed the greater resistance against white-rot as compared to brown rot.