Hydrogen cyanide for treating wood against pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus): results of a model study

• Published in: Journal of wood science Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 204 - 210
• Main Authors: Douda, Ondřej, Zouhar, Miloslav, Maňasová, Marie, Dlouhý, Milan, Lišková, Jana, Ryšánek, Pavel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Springer-Verlag 01-04-2015; Springer Japan; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bursaphelenchus xylophilus; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Cyanides; Economic models; European Union; Exposure; exposure duration; Fumigation; Hydrogen cyanide; International trade; Life Sciences; Materials Science; Methyl bromide; Mortality; Nematodes; Organic chemistry; plant parasitic nematodes; quarantine; Sawdust; sorption; wood; Wood Science & Technology; wood treatment; Asia; Europe; Hydrogen cyanide; Fumigation; Methyl bromide alternative; Wood treatment
• ISSN: 1435-0211; 1611-4663
• DOI: 10.1007/s10086-014-1452-9

The pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) belongs to economically most important quarantine plant parasitic nematodes in Asia and Europe. As wood transported within the international trade plays major role in B. xylophilus spreading into new areas, attention should be given to wood treatment. With methyl bromide ban in the EU in 2000 new chemicals should be investigated. This work describes results obtained from model fumigation of hollow wooden blocks containing B. xylophilus nematodes in sawdust with gaseous hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Data considering HCN concentration in gas chamber and treated wooden blocks are also presented; HCN concentrations inside wooden blocks were recounted to ct product values which show irregular sorption of HCN by the wood. Total B. xylophilus mortality was observed in the variants treated with the initial HCN concentration of 12.30 g m⁻³and exposure times from 8 to 20 h, 18.21 g m⁻³and exposure times of 2, 4, 6, 10 and 16 to 20 h, 21.71 g m⁻³and exposure times of 12, 18 and 20 h and 24.12 g m⁻³and exposure times of 2, 6, 12 and 18 h. Results show overall good efficiency of HCN treatment on B. xylophilus mortality, however, research on naturally infested wood should be desirable.