Structural Stability of Urban Trees Using Visual and Instrumental Techniques: A Review

This review focuses on tree health assessment in urban forest, specifically on the methodologies commonly used to detect levels, dimensions, and location of wood deterioration. The acknowledged benefits to the urban forestry area from the application of assessment techniques are also addressed. A summary is presented of the different methodologies, such as visual analyses, acoustic tomography, and digital wood inspection drill, with the underlined importance of the biodeterioration of wood by fungi and termites.

EFFECTS OF NEEM OIL ON THE PRESERVATION OF MILICIA EXCELSA: EVALUATION OF TERMITICIDAL EFFECTIVENESS

Wood usage has increased with time, thus, there is need to investigate how wood can be treated with human and environmentally friendly preservative which is effective in protecting wood from termites and other agents of wood deterioration, or improve the wood physical, chemical, mechanical and biological characteristics. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the effects of neem oil on Milicia excelsa wood preservation. Treated and untreated pieces of Milicia excelsa wood samples were used to carry out this experiment, a soil bed, and an internal wood exposure to termite’s test was carried out, and measurements taken using a digital weighing machine. The results obtained showed that, when Milicia excelsa is treated with neem oil, its Rate of Decay (ROD) reduces as compared to the untreated pieces. Also, neem oil treated wood when exposed to termite’s attack experiences a slower weight loss compared to untreated samples with significant weight loss. Neem oil is thus not only effective in preserving woods, but also non- toxic to human and the environment.

Investigating the impact of weathering and indoor aging on wood acidity using spectroscopic analyses

A new perspective on the effect of unconditioned indoor (especially storage areas) and outdoor environments on wood acidity is provided in this work. A comparison between the quantity and types of the organic acids formed in the unconditioned indoor environment and different outdoor environments was made. Moreover, the acidity of some wood samples due to different environmental conditions was determined using a pH meter and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was used to detect the changes in wood components at the molecular level due to environmental conditions. The results suggest that the unconditioned indoor environment was more aggressive than the outdoor environment with respect to wood deterioration. The polluted atmosphere increased the wood acidity and motivated polysaccharide breakdown.

Phylogenetic analysis of wood-inhabiting molds and assessment of soft-rot wood deterioration. Part 5. Genus Aureobasidium

The genus Aureobasidium is wellknown as a wood-staining mold and as a black yeast-like fungi, which produces mainly dark spores or pigmented hyphae within the wood cell lumens. Nevertheless, few studies are dedicated to wood-colonizing Aureobasidium species and little is known about the wood degradation patterns of this genus. In the present study, four Aureobasidium species, including Aureobasidium melanogenum, Aureobasidium leucospermi, Aureobasidium pullulans, and an unknown Aureobasidium sp., were isolated and identified based on phylogenetic analysis. A. melanogenum and A. leucospermi were observed for the first time in Korea. The degradation pattern of Douglas-fir by Aureobasidium was observed for the first time by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All tested Aureobasidium species except an unknown Aureobasidium sp. revealed soft-rot Type ΙΙ (erosion) in sapwood pine.