Natural durability of wood of ten native species from northeastern Mexico

Thorn scrub vegetation in Mexico is distributed over 50 million ha, where native tree species are the source of forage, timber, firewood and charcoal. Research describing wood durability of species from this vegetation type has not been fully determined, nor classified according to international standards. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine and classify the natural durability of ten woody species. Their natural durability was determined according to the European Pre-Norm 807, the loss of dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE_dyn) (MPa) was determined and wood mass loss (g) after being exposed to Trametes versicolor and Coniophora puteana fungi. Wood durability was classified according to the European Norm 350-1. Highly significant differences (p<0.001) were found between the durability of woody species. The more durable species with lower MOE_dyn lost were Condalia hookeri (57.5% ±0.6%), Havardia pallens (58.2% ±0.4%) and Acacia schaffneri (58.9% ±6.3%). Species with lower mass loss after exposed to Coniophora puteana were Ebenopsis ebano (6.3% ±1.9%), Condalia hookeri (8.6% ±2.3%) and Cordia boissieri (11.8% ±2.3%). E. ebano (7.1% ±2.4%), Condalia hookeri (8.2% ±2.5%) and Cordia boissieri (11.5% ±3.1%) showed the lower mass lost after exposed to T. versicolor. According to European Norm 350-1, three woody species were classified as very durable and durable species.