Susceptibility of Populus x euramericana ‘I-214’ of Spanish origin to xylophagous attacks: durability tests for its possible inclusion in European standard

Abstract

Aim of study: to assess the natural durability of Populus x euramericana ‘I-214’ against xylophagous fungi and termites, and to carry out a macro-microscopic analysis of the alterations caused by each xylophagous agent in order to get the necessary information for its possible inclusion in existing European standards. Area of study: a 20-years-old commercial plantation Populus x euramericana‘I-214’ located in Quintanilla de Sollamas (42° 36′ 00′′N - 05° 49′ 00′′ W), Spanish community of Castile-Leon. Material and methods: material sampling and selection was carried out following EN 350:2017 for commercial sawn timber. Poplar resistance to xylophagous basidiomycete, soft rot fungi and subterranean termites was determined according to CEN/TS 15083-1:2005, CEN/TS 15083-2:2005 and EN 117:2012, respectively. The durability and use classes were estimated according to EN 350:2016 and EN 335:2013, respectively. The anatomical studies were carried out with Optical and Scanning Electron Microscope. Material characterization was carried out by reference to Anagnost (1998) and Schwarze (2007). Main results: ‘I-214’ poplar wood proved to be “Not-durable” to the action of basidiomycetes, soft rot fungi and termites, use classes 1-2, and showed macro-microscopic evidence of these types of decay. Research highlights: the information obtained in this study would allow the inclusion of clone I-214 in the standard EN 350 and its explicit classification within it