Unlocking the potential of paulownia in Malaysia: Durability assessment to mold

Paulownia is one of the species included in the plantation program in Malaysia due to its fast growth (three to four years) and excellent properties suitable for wide application including furniture, biofuel, musical instruments, and decoration. However, data on its durability to biodegradation is scarce, especially for tropical usage. In this study, a paulownia clone known as Revotropix Paulownia was evaluated for its resistance to mold (Aspergillus brasiliensis) attack. Three paulownia trees with three positions (top, middle, and bottom) were converted to (7 x 20 x 70) mm test blocks and exposed to A. brasiliensis in a 4-week agar dish test following the ASTM D4445 standard. Weekly assessments were carried out to observe the progress of mold growth on the tested samples compared to rubberwood as virulence control. Results showed high to moderate resistance of the Revotropix Paulownia to mold A. brasiliensis. The chemical properties (extractives, starch and sugar content) and anatomical characteristics were also discussed to demonstrate their relationship with paulownia’s durability to mold.