RG/WP 5.03 – IRG E

Insect factor in wood protection

Osvaldo Encinas and Jose Briceño

University of The Andes

Mérida, Venezuela, South America

Difficulties applying Heat Treatment according to ISPM No. 15, when fast

growth species are used

ISPM 15 for insect control dissemination

In many developing countries:

Wood for packaging is used without drying

Fast growth species have high amount of sugars and starch (Caribbean pine)

Together high moisture content, allow MO growth

Aim:• To observe the effects of the initial moisture

content and several HT temperatures on the final product, when wood packaging material are used

Poster 1 Results

• HT according ISPM 15 could prevent insect dissemination

• 56 °C during 30 minutes is not enough to eliminate fungi spores in the surface or mycelium inside the wood.

• If wood was not dried, mould fungi will grow after one or two days in a closed environment, such as the climate in a cargo ship.

• The temperature and relative humidity inside make suitable the proliferation of any microorganisms, mainly mould fungi.

Conclusions

• Wood technologists known bark free wood must be used and that a higher temperature is required to sterilize wood

• Highly recommended to use kiln dried wood if the objective is to avoid pathogenic agents, as the drying temperatures exceed the stipulated by ISPM 15

• Those are the best phytosanitary treatments.