The durability of the stem of Bactris gasipaes Kunth (Peach palm) was evaluated in field tests in a forest and in an urban environment, as well as in laboratory conditions. Five trees with spines and five trees without spines from the Tabatinga population (Putumayo landrace) were used in the experiment. Disks approximately 25-30cm thick were taken from the butt, middle and top portions of each tree and distributed at random in forest area near the INPA Peach Palm Germoplasm Bank (2°38'S60°03'W). The disks were checked every three months for 18 months for susceptibility to fungi. In the urban environment each disk was halved to remove the center and each half was distributed at random, one in a concave and the other in a convex position, on a wooden framework in an area near the CPPF/INPA, Manaus, and checked every 2 months for one year. In the forest environment the coating of the disks was susceptible to the fungi Hymenogramme javanensis Mont. & Berk. and Hypoxylon rubiginosum (Pers.: Fr.) Fr. In the urban environment the wood was highly susceptible to the fungi Lenzites striata (Swart.: Fr.) Fr., Lenzites sp, Porostereum amethysteum Hjortst.& Ryv. and Stereum strigoso-zonatum (Sch.) G. H. Cunn. In laboratory conditions the peach palm wood showed great resistance to the fungi Lenzites trabea Pers.: Fr., Polyporus fumosus Pers.: Fr. and Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.: Fr.) Murr.
Bactris gasipaes; Kunth; biodeterioration; fungi decay; natural durability