Abstract

Botryodiplodia theobromae is the dominanat fungus causing sapstain of rubber wood in Kerala. The source of nutrition during the development and growth of sapstain fungus in wood is normally recognised as soluble carbohydrates towards understanding the chemistry of decayed wood, no details are available on the chemistry of sapstained wood. Hence an attempt was made to study the chemical changes occuring in rubber wood stained by Botryodiplodia theobromae in comparison with fresh rubber wood. Chemical properties such as alcohol-benzene extractives, lignin and holocellulose percenntage, and amount of carbohydrate present in the cells were estimated and compared with that of unstained wood. No significant changes in the percentage of alcohole-benzene extractives, lignin, and holocellulose were observed in stained wood samples when compared to unstained wood samples. However, there was a significant reduction in the carbohydrate percentage of stained wood samples