In Europe there exist a number of quarantine organisms that affect conifer forests, including Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg et O'Donnell (telemorph: Gibberella circinata Nirenberg et O'Donnell), a quarantine organism in Europe producing the disease known as pitch canker of pines. For a decade, the European Union has taken steps to locate and eradicate the pathogen with the aim of eliminating the risk of spread. So far research has focused on forest stands, however, the movement of felled timber may pose a threat from its cutting at sawmills until its transformation at its final destination. Much research is being carried out on the efficacy of fungicidal wood preservatives against this organism. This paper presents the current research progress in this line, evaluating the efficacy of the most frequently used commercial products against wood decay fungi, in dry wood of four of pine species (Pinus sylvestris, P. pinaster, P. radiata and P. nigra). The results show that products 1, 2, 7, 9 and 11 are effective in protecting dry wood from F. circinatum in the four pine species tested. This fact should be taken into account in the wood protection industry, as it would be the best preventive measure to ensure the control of this organism.

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