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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Resistance of gamma-irradiated sapwood of Cryptomeria japonica to biological attacks

Journal of Wood Science volume 53, pages 320–323 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Any means helpful for the promotion of termite feeding activity has potential for use in a matrix in termite bait application. Therefore, energy transfer by gamma irradiation is worthy of consideration for converting wood into termite-accessible material. Wood specimens gamma-irradiated at 100 kGy and at lower levels were tested for their degrees of polymerization (DP) of cellulose and biological resistance. The DP of cellulose adversely decreased with increased doses of gamma irradiation. Termite wood consumption rates, which were determined by laboratory tests using undifferentiated larvae (workers) of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, were significantly higher at 100 kGy than at other doses. On the other hand, the decay resistance of gamma-irradiated wood against the fungi Fomitopsis palustris (Berkeley et Curtis) Murrill and Trametes versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Quel did not vary by irradiation dose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Gokasyo, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan

    Noriaki Katsumata, Tsuyoshi Yoshimura, Kunio Tsunoda & Yuji Imamura

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  1. Noriaki Katsumata
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  2. Tsuyoshi Yoshimura
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  3. Kunio Tsunoda
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  4. Yuji Imamura
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Correspondence to Noriaki Katsumata.

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Katsumata, N., Yoshimura, T., Tsunoda, K. et al. Resistance of gamma-irradiated sapwood of Cryptomeria japonica to biological attacks. J Wood Sci 53, 320–323 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-006-0852-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-006-0852-x

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