Study on the Natural Durability of Quercus pyrenaica Willd. to Wood Decay Fungi and Subterranean Termites

Evaluating wood’s natural durability is essential when establishing the level of protection that is required depending on the end use to extend its service life. Natural durability is defined as the intrinsic resistance of wood against the attack of destructive organisms. There are standardized meth...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Santos, Sara M., Troya-Franco, María Teresa de, Robertson, Lee, Gutiérrez, Saúl, Caballé, Gonzalo, Villanueva, José Luis
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/401652
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/401652
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Natural durability
Quercus pyrenaica
Xylophages
Basidiomycetes
Subterranean termites
Descripción
Sumario:Evaluating wood’s natural durability is essential when establishing the level of protection that is required depending on the end use to extend its service life. Natural durability is defined as the intrinsic resistance of wood against the attack of destructive organisms. There are standardized methods for estimating a durability value. In Europe, the EN 350:2016 standard is responsible for establishing the basic guidelines, as well as the necessary tests to determine this value. This standard applies to commercial wood, both native and imported, and helps to improve and obtain better construction applications depending on the final use. This work aimed to study the natural durability of Quercus pyrenaica Wild. against Basidiomycetes (Coniophora puteana (Schumacher ex Fries) Karsten and Trametes versicolor (Linnaeus) Quélet) and termites (Reticulitermes grassei Clément). The standards applied were EN 113-2:2021 and EN 117:2023. The heartwood of the Quercus pyrenaica is highly durable against both xylophages basidiomycetes and subterranean termites. The sapwood is moderately durable against Coniophora puteana, slightly durable-not durable against Trametes versicolor, and moderately durable against termites. These results open the door for commercialization of this species, and it is expected to be included in EN 350:2016, where Q. pyrenaica is not included.