Wood protectors to control Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

IRG/WP 15-30661

M T Troya, C S Arcos, A Navas, L Robertson, M Conde, F Llinares

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the pine wilt nematode (PWN), is a quarantine organism with a high potential to damage Conifer forests in Europe. The European Union is concerned in the protection of forest stands from the propagation and dispersion of this pathogen. In this line, the current control measures have been unsuccessful in preventing the dispersion of this organism, as it continues to be detected in wood material through commercial trade. By other hand, timber is an organic material treated with specific products against wood decay organisms, and in wood packaging is submitted to thermo-treatment in accordance with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM-15) to control PWN. In this sense, the industrial sector is worried whether if this treatment is sufficient in case of wood pieces of bigger thickness, and if the current anti-decay wood treatments are effective against this nematode. For this reason, the objective of this work has been to evaluate the efficacy against B. xylophilus, of the permitted wood products in dry wood in in four of pine species (Pinus sylvestris, P. pinaster, P. radiata and P. nigra). The results with the other products employed in dry wood (stained and non-stained) show that all of them are effective against this nematode. In consequence, timber protected with commercialized wood preservatives may be a good way to control PWN in the wood industry.


Keywords: Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, biocides, wood, timber protection

Conference: 15-05-10/14 Vina del Mar, Chile


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