LABORATORY SCREENING TRIALS WITH CHEMICALS FOR THE PROTECTION OF GREEN TIMBER AGAINST FUNGI

Thirty-two chemicals were tested for effectiveness against stain, decay, and mould fungi on freshly sawn sapwood of Pinus radiata D. Don. Eighteen of these were quaternary ammonium compounds. The performance of some quaternary ammonium compounds was improved when used in combination with other fungicides or under highly alkaline conditions. None of the chemicals or mixtures which controlled sapstain are currently cost-effective for the New Zealand market when compared with the standard treatments of 0.2 % a.i. captafol or 0.5 % sodium pentachlorophenoxide plus 1.5 % borax pentahydrate