Natural Resistance of Four Forest Species Submitted to Test with Decay Fungi

This study aimed to evaluate the natural durability of Eucalyptus dunnii, Eucalyptus robusta, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Hovenia dulcis woods subjected to accelerated testing in laboratory with rotting fungi Gloeophyllum trabeum, causer of brown rot; and Trametes versicolor, causer of white rot. The samples remained 12 weeks in contact with the fungi, after that, we calculated the percentages of mass loss, classified according to the degree of natural resistance and assessed according to the rate of susceptibility to attack. The averages of the results were compared by the Tukey test at 5% significance level. Eucalyptus robusta wood was classified as resistant and Hovenia dulcis wood was classified as non-resistant to both fungi. The index of susceptibility to attack indicated that the species studied present acceptable values and that they are more resistant to the attack of fungi compared with reference species (Pinus sp.; Cecropia sp.)