Influence of Decay Fungi on Selected Anatomical Properties of Aningeria Robusta A. Chev. Wood

Due to population explosion, the forest of Nigeria like most tropical forest is over exploited for choice traditional species. Therefore, need to investigate species that can substitute the species arise. Five trees of Aningeria robusta were harvested from Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria. Bolts of 50cm length were obtained at the base, middle and the top; radial strips also obtained for innerwood, middlewood and outerwood. Ten test specimens of dimension 12mm x 15mm x 25mm were obtained per zone. N-hexane heartwood extracts of a 30 year old Gliricidia sepium diluted with kerosene using volume by volume method into 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% was used. Quantitative characterizations of fungi inoculated and uninoculated wood blocks were determined. The wood blocks were immersed in the extract for 48 hours prior subjection to Lentinus sajor-caju and Trichoderma viride for sixteen. Samples were laid in split plot and factorial experimental designs for the uninoculated and inoculated respectively. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and descriptive statistics. Mean proportion of vessel, fibre and ray before inoculation are 16.89%, 59.08% and 23.74% respectively. Sources of variance had significant effect on the properties at 5% probability level. There was a general reduction in all the anatomical properties after inoculation with the fungi strains. The fungi used, concentration levels adopted, sampling heights involved and radial position had significant effect on the anatomical properties after inoculation with the fungi. Conclusively, the bio-preservative could not prevent fungal growth on the anatomical properties; it could only reduce it.