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. Takat dan lokasi reput busuk akar perang (Phellinus noxius) pada pokok hidup Sterculia foetida dikaji menggunakan teknik penilaian tak musnah (NDE) iaitu pemeriksaan secara pemerhatian, tomografi gelombang tegasan, rintang gerudi dan kekuatan hancur. Nilai halaju gelombang tegasan, rintang gerudi dan kekuatan hancur bagi pokok yang dijangkiti adalah lebih rendah daripada pokok yang sihat. Pereputan dan kerosakan yang lebih teruk serta ciri kekuatan yang lebih lemah didapati berdekatan akar dan kulit batang pada pangkal pokok yang dijangkiti. Pemerhatian di lapangan menunjukkan yang pereputan dan kemerosotan kayu akibat busuk akar perang berkembang ke atas dari akar ke batang dan dari kulit ke empulur. Pelbagai teknik NDE boleh digunakan secara gabungan untuk mengesan reput pada pokok hidup yang dijangkiti busuk akar reput.