Economically Feasible Wood Biopreservation Platform in (Houtt.) Merr. Against Wood Rotting Fungus Through Bio-Prospecting Weed Extracts.

As an alternative to synthetic preservatives, the use of plant-based, environmentally sustainable preservatives for wood protection has tremendous potential. The current research analyzed the dimensional stability and longevity of wood using weed extracts viz. L. and L., respectively. Petroleum ether (PE) and methanolic weed extracts were used to treat wood blocks (5 cm × 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm) at varying concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 2.00%. The PE extract of resulted in maximum swelling (tangential plane, 6.30%) at 2.00%, volumetric swelling coefficient (13.17%) at 1.50%, and volumetric shrinkage coefficient (7.71%) at 1.00% concentration, while maximum shrinkage (tangential plane, 4.10%) in methanol (M) extract was observed. In methanolic extract (1.00%), maximum anti-shrink efficiency (37.01%) was recorded. mycelial growth of the wood-rotting fungus was completely inhibited by PE extract from both weeds. However, the methanolic extract of resulted in maximal inhibition (75.93%) at a concentration of 2.00%. Also, PE extract (2.00%) of reduced the fungal colonization to 50%, as compared with control. The lowest weight loss (decay test, 12 weeks) was observed at a 2.00% concentration of PE extract. The present research highlighted that both and could be used as an environmentally sustainable wood preservative substitute that will encourage the utilization of in wood-based industries.