Small stakes (5x10x100 mm3) of treated and untreated Pinus sylvestris sapwood were exposed in terrestrial microcosms with different soils, two taken from test fields in Sweden, one soil from a conifer forest and one garden compost soil. Stakes of the same size were also exposed to pure cultures of the brown and white rot fungi, Postia placenta and Phanerochaete chrysosporium. After exposure, weight losses were determined and stakes from the microcosms were analysed concerning type of microbial attack using light microscopy. Preservatives effective against brown rot but not against soft rot and bacteria prevented weight losses in stakes exposed to pure culture of brown rot and in a soil containing brown rot fungi, while weight losses could be considerable after exposure in soils with soft rot fungi and bacteria. The ranking of preservatives varied depending on type of soil. Two preservative types included in the laboratory tests with small stakes as well as untreated stakes have been included in several field tests. Similarities can be observed when results from field tests and tests in microcosms with soils from the same fields are compared.

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