Natural durability of timber species exposed to xylophagous fungi in southern Durango, Mexico.

Introduction: Wood is a natural resource used for construction and the manufacture of many products. This material is exposed to damage due to biotic and abiotic factors. An important biotic factor is wood-degrading fungi that generate large economic losses. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of xylophagous fungi ( and ) on the natural durability of six timber species in southern Durango, Mexico, and to establish differences between fungal effects on each tree species.

Materials And Methods: Samples of , and were exposed to fungi for 4 months under laboratory conditions according to European Standard EN350-1. Samples of were used as control. Durability was determined as the percentage of wood mass loss for each species. Welch ANOVA tests were performed to establish differences among tree species. Welch t-tests were used to prove loss mass differences between fungi for each tree species.

Results: The most resistant species to were , and , showing mean mass losses lower than 8.08%. The most resistant species to were , and (mean mass losses lower than 7.39%). and were more susceptible to effect; in contrast, and showed more damage due to degradation.

Conclusions: Woods of and are well adapted to infection by these xylophagous fungi and are therefore highly recommended for commercial use in southern Durango, Mexico.