Efforts to protect wood from biological degradation by fungi and insects has been ongoing since industry research began. Over this time wood protection has undergone some dynamic changes. This new report highlights a range of findings and key recommendations from the US based Wood Protection Research Council (WPRC).
Chemicals used to protect wood from deterioration have generally been broad-spectrum biocides that have been discovered by the traditional screening approach. A more logical approach is the development of selective and targeted biocides by defining the target first, characterising that target, and then designing inhibitors based on the mechanism of action of the defined biotarget. Despite substantial progress, biochemical targets for fungal inhibition have seldom been described.
The top research priorities highlighted from the report include; (1) accelerated lab and field test procedures, (2) molecular database for mapping and product failure, and (3) life cycle cost analysis.
Image credit: Forest Products Laboratory
