The natural durability of wood to mold fungi was tested under laboratory conditions with locally sourced Citharexylum spinosum and Morus alba woods. The mold fungi were Penicillium selerotigenum, Paecilomyces variotii, and Aspergillus niger. Changes in surface elemental composition were evaluated with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and the biodeterioration of wood surfaces by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The C peak element of C. spinosum wood was affected significantly (P = 0.0004) and decreased from 49.91% in the control specimens to 47%, 40.1%, and 40% with P. selerotigenum, A. niger, and P. variotii, respectively. Also, the C peak element of M. alba heartwood significantly decreased (P < 0.0001) from 51.33% in the control specimens to 41.49%, 45.66%, and 43.66% in wood inoculated with A. niger, P. variotii, and P. selerotigenum, respectively. The elements Al and Cu were observed in high percentages with M. alba heartwood inoculated by P. variotii. The methanol extract from M. alba heartwood showed good inhibition against the growth of A. niger at a concentration of 32 μg/mL, and the methanol extract from C. spinosum wood showed remarkable inhibition against the growth of P. variotii at a concentration of 8 μg/mL. The results of this study clearly showed the changes that occur in wood samples as a result of fungal infestation.

No abstract

This study was carried out at a greenhouse of Sabahia Horticulture Research Station, Alexandria, Egypt, to study the effect of sewage effluent on the growth and chemical composition of Tipuana speciosa (Benth.) Kuntze seedlings as well as on soil properties for three stages. The irrigation treatments were primary-treated wastewater and secondary-treated wastewater, in addition to tap water as control. Therefore, the treated wastewater was taken from oxidation ponds of New Borg El-Arab City. Results of these study revealed that the primary effluent treatment explored the highest significant values for vegetative growth and biomass, compared to the other treatments. In addition, the higher significant concentration and uptake of chemical composition in different plant parts were obtained from the primary effluent treatment during the three stages of irrigation. It was found that the concentration of heavy metals in either plant or soil was below as compared to the worldrecommended levels. These findings suggested that the use of sewage effluent in irrigating T. speciosa seedlings grown in calcareous soil was beneficial for the improvement of soil properties and production of timber trees, and also important for the safe manner of disposal of wastewater. Keywords Irrigation Á Sewage effluent Á Vegetative growth Á Chemical composition Á Soil properties Á Heavy metals Á Tipuana speciosa (Benth.

Vegetative growth, biomass, chemical content and uptake of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in Melia azedarach L. (chinaberry) and Populus alba L. (white poplar) seedlings were investigated using a 2-year pot experiment. The results indicated that P. alba and M. azedarach are tolerant to contaminated soil by Cd or Pb without any toxicity symptoms. Vegetative growth and chemical properties of M. azedarach are negatively affected by Cd more than Pb whereas, biomasses are negatively affected by Pb little than Cd. Likewise, vegetative growth and chemical properties are negatively affected by Cd more than Pb however, biomasses are negatively affected by Cd and Pb with the same significant level. Both species accumulate more concentrations of Cd and Pb in their roots than in leaves and stem. As a result, P. alba and M. azedarach are considered suitable phytoremediators for contaminated soils by Cd or Pb.

Five-year-old Gmelina arborea, Khaya senegalensis and Tectona grandis seedlings were investigated at Sarabium Plantation, located in North Eastern Egypt, allocated for wastewater disposal. The study monitored the growth, above ground biomass, water use efficiency, nutrients and heavy metals content of these species throughout three seasons (2016, 2017 and 2018). The study was laid out on a randomized complete block design in split plot layout with three replications. There were 12 treatments including three irrigation treatments (A1) approximately 130 %; (A2) 100 %; and (A3) 70 % of evapotranspiration. These amounts of water was applied as main plot and four types of micro irrigation systems: bubblers (Bub.), on line dripper (Drip.), built-in dripper (G.R.) and sub-surface drip irrigation (SSD), as sub-plot factor. The results showed that using bubblers system together with the application of 10.3 l tree -1 day -1 of wastewater could be recommended in Sarabium area where water is not a limiting factor to provide the highest growth parameters and biomass production of Gmelina arborea, Khaya senegalensis and Tectona grandis tree species. Also, values of water use efficiency indicated that 0.76, 1.01, 1.33 and 2.4 m 3 of water were needed to produce one kilogram of dry matter yield using Bub., Drip., G.R., and SSD in Gmelina arborea; 0.59, 0.74, 0.97, and 2.0m 3 in Khaya senegalensis and 0.24, 0.40, 0.57, and 0.76 m 3 in Tectona grandis, respectively. This means that water savings were achieved with the Bub. system in comparing with Drip., G.R. and SSD were 0.25, 57, and 1.64 m 3 in Gmelina arborea; 0.15, 0.38, 1.41 m 3 in Khaya senegalensis and 0.16, 0.33 and 0.52 m 3 in Tectona grandis, respectively. The results of the present study could contribute in the Egyptian sustainable development strategy 2030, as it achieves the target of "managing the natural resources" through forestation the desert land and reuse the wastewater to produce woody biomass.