RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 White-Rot Fungi Control on Populus spp. Wood by Pressure Treatments with Silver Nanoparticles, Chitosan Oligomers and Propolis A1 Casado Sanz, María Milagrosa A1 Silva Castro, Iosody A1 Ponce-Herrero, Laura A1 Martín Ramos, Pablo A1 Martín Gil, Jesús A1 Acuña Rello, Luis K1 Decay fungi K1 Hongos xilófagos K1 Nanomaterials K1 Nanomateriales K1 Natural protectors K1 Protectores naturales K1 K1 K1 Wood preservatives K1 Madera - Conservantes AB There is growing interest in the development of non-toxic, natural wood preservationagents to replace conventional chemicals. In this paper, the antifungal activities of silver nanoparticles,chitosan oligomers, and propolis ethanolic extract were evaluated against white-rot fungus Trametesversicolor (L.) Lloyd, with a view to protecting Populus spp. wood. In order to create a more realisticin-service type environment, the biocidal products were assessed according to EN:113 Europeanstandard, instead of using routine in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods. Wood blockswere impregnated with the aforementioned antifungal agents by the vacuum-pressure method inan autoclave, and their biodeterioration was monitored over 16 weeks. The results showed thattreatments based on silver nanoparticles, at concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 ppm, presentedhigh antifungal activity, protecting the wood from fungal attack over time, with weight losses inthe range of 8.49% to 8.94% after 16 weeks, versus 24.79% weight loss in the control (untreated)samples. This was confirmed by SEM and optical microscopy images, which showed a noticeablyhigher cell wall degradation in control samples than in samples treated with silver nanoparticles.On the other hand, the efficacy of the treatments based on chitosan oligomers and propolis graduallydecreased over time, which would be a limiting factor for their application as wood preservatives.The nanometal-based approach is thus posed as the preferred choice for the industrial treatmentof poplar wood aimed at wood-based engineering products (plywood, laminated veneer lumber,cross-laminated timber, etc.). PB MDPI SN 1999-4907 YR 2019 FD 2019 LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/51301 UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/51301 LA spa NO Forests, 2019, vol. 10, n. 10, 885 DS UVaDOC RD 28-abr-2024