Abstract

In Kerala the occurrence of sapstain and mould growth on timbers is quite common due to the high humidity and a prolonged rainy season. The common stain causing fungi isolated from the commercially important timbers were Botryodiplodia theobromae, Ceratocystis fimbriata, Acremonium recefei, Fusarium spp, and Scytaliduim lignicola, of which B. theobromae is the most dominant one causing blue stain in Kerala. The fungi colonised on the surface of the timbers were Aspergillus riger, A. flavus, Penicillium spp., Trichoderma viride, Memnoniella echinata, Syncephalastrum racemosum, Cladosporium sp. and Memnoniella echinata causing dark black colour on the surface of wood are the most prevalent. The results of the fungicides evaluation indicated that only sodium azide could inhibit all the fungi at 1 a.i., while Carbendazim, Carboxin and Captafol were effective against some fungi only. Further evaluation of sodium azide at lower concentrations revealed that the chemical was