DETECTION OF PHELLINUS NOXIUS DECAY IN STERCULIA FOETIDA TREE

The extent and location of decay in a damaged standing hazel bottle tree (Sterculia foetida) infected with brown root rot (Phellinus noxius) were determined using non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques, namely, visual inspection, stress wave tomography, drilling resistance and crushing strength. The stress wave velocity, drilling resistance and crushing strength of the infected tree were lower than those of the uninfected tree. Greater decay and damage as well as weaker strength properties were found near the root and bark of the trunk at the base of the infected tree. Observation in the field showed that decay and wood deterioration due to brown root rot developed from the root upwards to the trunk and from the bark penetrating inwards to the pith. Various NDE techniques can be used in combination to detect decay in living tree infected with brown root rot.