Authors: Noriaki Katsumata Tsuyoshi Yoshimura Kunio Tsunoda Yuji Imamura
Publish Date: 2007/08/01
Volume: 53, Issue: 4, Pages: 320-323
Abstract
Any means helpful for the promotion of termite feeding activity has potential for use in a matrix in termite bait application Therefore energy transfer by gamma irradiation is worthy of consideration for converting wood into termiteaccessible material Wood specimens gammairradiated at 100 kGy and at lower levels were tested for their degrees of polymerization DP of cellulose and biological resistance The DP of cellulose adversely decreased with increased doses of gamma irradiation Termite wood consumption rates which were determined by laboratory tests using undifferentiated larvae workers of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki were significantly higher at 100 kGy than at other doses On the other hand the decay resistance of gammairradiated wood against the fungi Fomitopsis palustris Berkeley et Curtis Murrill and Trametes versicolor L ex Fr Quel did not vary by irradiation dose
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