In the last decade, two new organisms with a high potential damage in Conifer forests have been detected in Europe. They are the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and the fungus Gibberella circinata (anamorf: Fusarium circinatum), and have driven the European Union to protect the stands from propagation and dispersion of these new pathogens. The nematode was detected first in Setubal (Portugal) in 1999 and eradication measures were taken there. However, they were unsuccessful decreasing the infection level, so new regulations were announced (2006/133/CE, Comission on 13 february 2006). Even then, dispersion was not prevented, and Bursaphelenchus xylophilus has been detected with wood material through commercial trade. B. xylophilus is a quarantine organism and so it is Fusarium circinatum. This fungus was found in Spain in 2004 and it is a potential destructive pathogen, especially in nurseries and plantations. By other hand, timber is a material with a free market in Europe, and although it is treated with specific products against wood decay organisms, the industrial sector is worried about if the adopting measures treating the wood by thermal treatment following NIMF 15, is enough and if the wood preservatives are effective against these organisms. That’s why in Spain several organizations are developing projects to evaluate the effectiveness of the fungicide and insecticide wood preservatives used actually for the temporary and permanently protection of timber, in order to see if this kind of products has a biocide effect against these quarantine organisms. Particularly, the objective of this work has been to assess the efficacy of the wood preservatives against Fusarium circinatum, whereas is being studying the same against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, whose results will be present in the next future.

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