Comparative Evaluation of Some Woody Tree Methanolic Extracts and Paraloid B-72 against Phytopathogenic Mold Fungi Alternaria tenuissima and Fusarium culmorum

Natural compounds from certain timber trees are highly valued and recommended to protect wood and wood products against mold fungi. This study highlighted the use of some natural extracts and Paraloid B72 against the growth of two mold fungi, namely Alternaria tenuissima and Fusarium culmorum. From the in vitro experiment, the methanol extracts of Callistemon viminalis bark were effective against the growth of F. culmorum, as were Magnolia grandiflora leaves against A. tenuissima. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis of treated Acacia saligna wood with the two fungi and Paraloid B-72 demonstrated the clear hyphal growth of F. culmorum and A. tenuissima and changes in elemental chemical composition. After three months, no fungal growth on the wood surface treated with the methanol extract of M. pomifera bark was found. After three months of treating wood with Paraloid B-72 at 5% and 10%, the mold growth was visible. Almost all of the wood treated with methanol extracts showed growth of the A. tenuissima hypha, as well as some contamination by other microorganisms, except for the wood treated with the methanol extract of M. pomifera bark.