Biological Resistance to Xylophagous Organisms of Two Lesser-Known Timber Species from the Caatinga Biome

The aimed of this study was to assess the biological resistance of Combretum leprosum and Erythroxylum pungens wood to termites and xylophagous fungi. Five trees per species were collected. For bioassays, the sampling was carried out in two positions in pith-bark direction. In the termite choice feeding bioassay, E. pungens wood showed the lowest mass losses (1.03%). The positions on the trunk did not influence deterioration by soft rot fungi. In the soil bed test, the E. pungens species was the most resistant in both positions evaluated. In general, E. pungens wood was the most resistant in all the tests carried out, with wood from the transition region being the most susceptible.

Keywords:
Semiarid; Termites; Wood density; Sustainability