Mutual interactions of fungi and molds on woods treated with a caffeine solution: A preliminary study

When used in construction, wood-based materials are mainly affected by moisture and subsequent biological attacks. One of the natural substances potentially used as substance against wood-destroying pests is caffeine. Caffeine aquatic solution (20 g.L−1) was applied to 7 selected woods (pine, spruce, beech, English oak, red oak, walnut and sapelli) in the present study. Treated woods were then exposed to fungal (Serpula lacrymans and Coniophora puteana) and aerial mold attacks for a period of 28 days. The results indicated that with exception of walnut, all of the woods were covered by molds and by fungi. Absorption of caffeine solution decreased from beech, red oak walnut, pine, sapelli, English oak to spruce. The resistance of woods to biological degradation increased in the following order: read oak, walnut, sapelli, English oak, spruce, pine, beech.