Pakistan Journal of Forestry Database
| PJF VOL 1 - Issue 1 - Year 1951; PP 51 - 51 Search | |
| Title | Dry-rot in Building Timber |
| Author(s) | S. Murtaza Hussain |
| Designation | Forest Research Institute Upper Topa |
| Abstract/Summary Introduction/General |
Certain special fungi are capable of causing decay in wood after it has been seasoned and used in buildings or other construction work, and hence they are said to cause “dry-rot”. The disease spreads in two ways: (i) by contagion and (ii) by infection. The growth of the dry-rot fungi can be arrested by controlling the factors favorable for their development. Sound and properly seasoned heartwood of various timbers, would, surely, be able to resist the attack. In doubtful cases, a preliminary steaming treatment may be recommended. Sapwood should be avoided, but if economic considerations render its use indispensable, then the desirability of preservative treatment would be obvious. The removal of decayed and affected wood must be executed with meticulous attention, the sporophores or detached pieces of mycelial felts or strands be burnt. The place should be thoroughly sterilized before fresh timber is substituted in the place or stored. Only Linzites saaepiaria has so far been recorded in India the rest are all European or American species. Exhaustive, as the fungi occurring in Pakistan have not yet been worked out and included. |
