Abstract:
Studies were carried out on the influence of Prunus africana heartwood extractives on the growth
of selected wood decay fungi. Also, wood chemical and mineral content, dimensional stability and anatomical
features of P. africana were studied. Heartwood extractives were tested in 100 ppm and 500 ppm concentrations
on white, brown rot, and blue stain fungi and growth inhibition was determined as a factor of time. Dimensional
stability was determined by computing the swelling coefficient after the blocks were saturated with moisture.
Klason lignin, Kürschner cellulose, extractive and ash contents were determined by standard procedures. Infrared
analyses were performed using Perkin Elmer FTIR spectrometer. Microscopic examination was performed using an
environmental scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the wood is dimensionally stable, and con-
tains 12.7 % extractives, 37.6 % cellulose and 30.4 % lignin. Extractives deposited in vessels are highly soluble in
dichloromethane and mainly composed of terpenes. Extractives were able to inhibit the growth of white rot fungi
Coriolus versicolor, brown rot fungi Poria placenta and blue stain fungi Aureobasidium pullulans at different con-
centrations tested and could explain the high durability of Prunus africana wood species.
