1Applied Plant Anatomy and Wood Technology Laboratory Department of Plant Biology Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
2Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
*E-mail: abdulrahamanaa@unilorin.edu.ng, aaaolatunji@gmail.com
Online published on 19 February, 2019.
Jatropha curcas, J. gossypifolia and Ricinus communis are shrubs known to contain active compounds of pesticidal properties. The efficacy of their seed oil extracts at various concentrations on woods of Daniellia oliveri, Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis which are commonly used for furniture making and other wood products was studied. The wood species were subjected to termite (Coptotermes curvignathus) and mould fungus attacks. Common synthetic preservative (Chlorpyriphos) was used as a control. Seed extract of R. communis was most effective with efficacy in increasing order of 25% to 100% concentrations, followed by J. curcas at 50% to 100% concentrations, and J. gossypifolia at 100% concentration. Though the conventional preservative is the most effective, R. communis and J. gossypifolia seed oil extracts are well effective at 75% and 100% respectively. These natural preservatives can be used in place of the synthetic preservatives which tend to have hazardous effects on the environment.
Industrial wood, botanical wood preservation, seed oil extract, synthetic preservative, fungal attack, termite attack, pesticide, Jatropha, Ricinus
