Antônio José Vinha Zanuncio

Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae) Attacks Hybrid Eucalyptus L'Héritier De Brutelle Clones In Southern Espírito Santo, Brazil

The cultivation of Eucalyptus L’Héritier de Brutelle in Brazil is directly and indirectly responsible for a great number of jobs and reduces the need for cutting native forest. Species of Hymenoptera (Zanuncio et al. 2002), Lepidoptera (Zanuncio et al. 1993; Pereira et al. 2008) and Coleoptera (Zanuncio et al. 2005, 2009; Garlet et al. 2009) are the main groups of insect pests of Eucalyptus. The important Coleoptera are polyphagous and perforate the sapwood in plantations intended for the production of wood (Wood and Bright 1987; Flechtmann et al. 2001; Kirkendall et al. 2008). Platypodinae were found in two clonal plantations of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake × Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. and E. urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maid. hybrid) in the municipality of Venda Nova do Imigrante, Espírito Santo, Brazil. These areas (Figs. 1A and B) were established in January 2002 and visited and photographed with a Sony Cyber-Shot digital camera (model DSC-W70 with 7.2 megapixels) in January 2009. Some trees with the presence of platypodine tunnels were felled and wood discs of 5 cm × 15–25 cm (height × diameter) were obtained with a chain saw. Discs were sent to the Laboratory of Biological Control of the Department of Animal Biology, Federal University de Viçosa in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil where they were analyzed. The holes in the wood discs were opened by hammer and chisel to determine the diameter, length, and direction of the galleries, and presence of platypodine adults. Some adult specimens were killed by the sapwood and remained stuck to the Eucalyptus bark without penetrating it. Adults were collected and preserved in 70% alcohol, mounted, photographed in macro mode with a digital camera (Nikon SLR, model D200) coupled to a stereomicroscope (Olympus, model SZH10), and sent to L. R. Kirkendall (University Bergen, Norway) for identification. The species collected was identified as Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis, 1865) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae) (Figs. 1F, G, H, and I). A male and two females were deposited in the Museum of the Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. Problems associated with M. mutatus were represented by holes in the stems of Eucalyptus trees up to a height of 3.0 m above the soil (Figs. 1C, D, and E). Adults bored from the Eucalyptus sapwood to the heartwood with galleries in several directions, but always toward the center of the trunk, as done by other ambrosia beetles (Shore et al. 1987; Morales et al. 2000). The linear length of the galleries ranged from 3 to 15 cm and all of them had symbiotic fungal growth. All of the galleries except one had no signs of larvae or adults of M. mutatus. Megaplatypus mutatus is a highly polyphagous species native to South America (Girardi et al. 2006), breeding in a wide variety of native and exotic hosts (Giménez and Etiennot 2003). It is one of only a handful of platypodine or scolytine ambrosia beetle species capable of colonizing living trees (Kirkendall 2006). It attacks living trees with a diameter at breast height greater than 15 cm and forms deep galleries in a transverse plane of the xylem, reducing the commercial value of the wood (Bascialli et al. 1996; Alfaro et al. 2007). This species has also been reported from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela in more than 30 genera of woody plants, including some of commercial importance (Giménez and Etiennot 2003; Giménez and Panzardi 2003). Megaplatypus mutatus was reported in the province of Caserta, Naples, Italy, damaging plants of Populus L. spp. (Tremblay et al. 2000), and its populations there are being monitored to prevent the spread of the pest (Alfaro et al. 2007). Megaplatypus mutatus has been reported in Brazil from Acacia meanmsii De Wild. (Santana and Santos 2001), Erythrina crista-galli L. (Giménez and Etiennot 2003), and Caesalpinia echinata Lam (Girardi et al. 2006), but our observation is the first report of this species in clonal Eucalyptus plantations used for sawlogs in Espírito Santo. The economic value of these cultivars and the difficulty of controlling this insect, which penetrates tree stems, requires monitoring with traps made of cotton soaked in 20% ethanol (Audino et al. 2005; Girardi et al. 2006) or sex pheromone (Liguori et al. 2008) combined with search control tactics. Relatively little is known about M. mutatus beyond the damage it causes; knowledge of natural enemies, their efficiency, and possibility of application and methods of controlling this pest have not yet been studied. The occurrence ofM.mutatus in Eucalyptus plantations demonstrates the necessity of studies

EXTRACTIVES AND ENERGETIC PROPERTIES OF WOOD AND CHARCOAL

Charcoal production stands out as a raw material for the production of renewable energy. To assess wood quality in energy terms, studies have focused more on the holocellulose and lignin content than on the role of extractives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the extractive content in cold water, in dichloromethane and total on energy properties of wood and charcoal, from six trees species. The extractives were removed with different solvents to be recorded and gross calorific value of wood was determined. The wood was carbonized at 1.67°C/min heating rate until maximum of 450°C and residence time of 30 min. The extractive content was correlated with the gravimetric yield, apparent relative density, ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon and gross calorific value of charcoal. The removal of total extractives and extractives soluble in dichloromethane reduced the gross calorific value of wood of most species evaluated. The extractives removed in cold water did not correlate with the parameters of carbonization. The extractives content in dichloromethane correlated with volatile matter, fixed carbon and gross calorific value. Total extractive content correlated with gravimetric yield, apparent relative density and gross calorific value of charcoal. RESUMO - A producao de carvao vegetal se destaca como materia-prima para a producao de energia renovavel. A holocelulose e a lignina sao mais abordadas em estudos sobre a qualidade da madeira para fins energeticos, enquanto a influencia de extrativos nesse parâmetro e pouco conhecida. O objetivo foi avaliar a relacao entre o teor de extrativos em agua fria, diclorometano e totais e as propriedades energeticas da madeira e do carvao vegetal de seis especies. Os extrativos foram removidos com diferentes solventes para serem contabilizados e o poder calorifico superior da madeira, determinado. A madeira foi carbonizada a uma taxa de aquecimento de 1,67 o C/min, temperatura maxima de 450 o C e tempo de residencia de 30 min. O teor de extrativos foi correlacionado com o rendimento gravimetrico, densidade relativa aparente, quimica imediata e poder calorifico do carvao. A remocao dos extrativos totais e soluveis em diclorometano reduziu o poder calorifico da madeira da maioria das especies avaliadas. Os extrativos em agua fria nao se relacionaram com os parâmetros da carbonizacao. O teor de extrativos em diclorometano apresentou correlacao com o teor de materiais volateis, carbono fixo e poder calorifico. O teor de extrativos totais se relacionou com o rendimento gravimetrico, densidade relativa aparente e poder calorifico do carvao vegetal. Eucalyptus ; Poder calorifico; Rendimento gravimetrico.

Predicting moisture content from basic density and diameter during air drying of Eucalyptus and corymbia logs

In air drying of Eucalyptus urophylla and Corymbia citriodora logs for the production of charcoal it is necessary to be able to predict when logs have reached the required moisture content of ≤ 35%.This study is aimed to produce models using basic density and diameter to predict the moisture content of Eucalyptus urophylla and Corymbia citriodora logs after 30, 60 and 90 days drying. 1,2 m long logs were taken at three different heights from three C. citriodora trees and three trees each from two E. urophylla clones (VM4 and Mn463). The 27 debarked, end sealed logs were air dried under cover for 90 days during which the change in moisture content was monitored. The relationship between density and drying was analyzed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the models for predicting the moisture content based on the basic density and diameter were produced. The density and the drying showed a high correlation coefficient. The coefficient of determination of the models was above 0,89 with a standard error lower than 6%. The use of the density and diameter to estimate the wood moisture content simplifies the production of the models, which can be used for Eucalyptus and Corymbia genetic materials.

Effect of extractives on wood color of heat treated Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus pellita

Heat treatment can change wood color without any use of environmentally harmful chemicals, and the efficiency of this process depends on the raw material to be treated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of extractives on the color change of Eucalyptus pellita and Pinus radiata wood during heat treatment. The extractives were extracted in cold water and in dichloromethane as well as totally removed and the wood was treated at 170°C and 200°C for three hours under atmospheric pressure and in presence of air for evaluating the lightness (L*), green-red coordinate (a*), blue-yellow coordinate (b*), color saturation (C) and tonality angle (H) values. Pinus radiata wood was more resistant to discoloration by heat treatment. The removal of total and cold water-soluble extractives before heat treatment changed the L* value of Pinus radiata, a* value of Eucalyptus pellita, and b*, C, and H values of both species. Removal of extractives soluble in dichloromethane did not affect the color of heat treated wood. Thus, understanding the influence of extractives on heat treated wood can allow adapting the raw material to the process for enhancing the applicability of heat treatment for changing wood color.

Química e colorimetria da madeira de Eucalyptus grandis W. Mill ex Maiden termorretificada

The heat treatment aims to improve the features to add value to the wood through the application of heat. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical and colorimetric changes in Eucalyptus grandis wood heat treated at 170, 200 and 230 °C for three, five and seven hours. The content of extractives, lignin, holocellulose, elemental composition and colorimetric parameters were determined. The extractives content increased in treatments at 170 °C and decreased from 200 °C, while total lignin increased and holocellulose decreased from 200 °C. The carbon content increased and oxygen content decreased at 230 °C for five and seven hours. The heat treatment reduced lightness, a* coordinate (red coordinate) and b* coordinate (yellow coordinate) of eucalyptus wood in all treatments.

Adesivos tânicos de Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville na produção de painéis aglomerados

The world seeking alternative sources for adhesives production by using renewable raw material. In this context, the use of Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville tannins bark have been showing potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of using tannic adhesive from the barks of barbatimao, for particleboard production. Tannin-based adhesives extracted from the bark of barbatimao were used in ratio of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% with commercial urea formaldehyde adhesive. Pure and mixtures adhesives had their properties determined. Particleboards with urea-formaldehyde, tannin-formaldehyde and its mixtures were produced and had their physic-mechanical properties tested. The adhesive tannic of barbatimao proved be technically feasible in the proportion until 50% for particleboard panels type, however, it is recommended to indoors use only, without moisture contact.

Teores de lignina e ácidos urônicos na madeira e polpa celulósica de Eucalipto

O teor de lignina influencia a alvura da polpa celulosica e, por isto, e uma variavel importante no processo de sua fabricacao, o que torna fundamental estabelecer metodos para determinar seu valor. Baseado na hipotese de que os metodos disponiveis para avaliar o teor de lignina soluvel medem, tambem, os acidos uronicos na madeira, isto tornaria este metodo impreciso. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar se existe correlacao entre a lignina e acidos uronicos na madeira de eucalipto e na polpa celulosica. Quarenta e seis amostras, sendo 24 amostras de madeira, 11 de polpa nao branqueada e 11 de polpa branqueada foram utilizadas para se determinar os teores de lignina e de acidos uronicos. As amostras de madeira apresentaram maior quantidade de lignina e, por isto, os teores de acidos uronicos nao influenciaram de forma significativa os valores da mesma. Amostras de polpa celulosica, com menor quantidade de lignina, mostraram grande correlacao entre os valores de acidos uronicos e lignina. Os testes de medicao de lignina na polpa celulosica apresentaram baixa precisao.

ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS AS A NEW TOOL FOR ASSESSING AND MONITORING WOOD MOISTURE CONTENT

Drying of wood is necessary for its use and moisture control is important during this process. The aim of this study was to use artificial neural networks to evaluate and monitor the wood moisture content during drying. Wood samples of 2 × 2 × 4 cm were taken at 1.3 m above the ground, outside of radial direction, from seven 2-year-old materials and three 7-year-old materials. These samples were saturated and drying was evaluated until the equilibrium moisture content, then, the artificial neural networks were created. The materials with higher initial moisture reached equilibrium moisture content faster due to its higher drying rate. The basic density of all wood materials was inversely proportional at the beginning and directly proportional to the moisture at the end of drying. All artificial neural networks used in this work showed high accuracy to estimate the moisture, however, the neural network based on the basic density and drying days was the best. Therefore, artificial neural networks can be used to control the moisture content of wood during drying.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ANATOMY AND DRYING IN Eucalyptus grandis X Eucalyptus urophylla WOOD

Drying is an important step to using wood and anatomical characteristics influence this process. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship between anatomy and wood drying. Samples with 2 x 2 x 4 cm were obtained from eight Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis clones at 1.3 m height to evaluate the anatomy and drying in climate chamber during 15 days. Cell wall fraction was established as the parameter that best correlated with drying, the Pearson correlation coefficient between this parameter and moisture was -0.8986, -0.6580, 0.9216, 0.8743, 0.7131 and 0.8727 for saturated wood, and after 1, 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 days of drying, respectively. The frequency and vessel size, as well as the height and width of the rays showed low relation with wood drying. Wood anatomy, mainly the cell wall fraction, influences moisture losses and should be considered in wood drying programs.

Desempenho de painéis OSB com adesivos comerciais e tânico de barbatimão

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of OSB (Oriented Strand Board) panels produced with commercial adhesives and tannic adhesive from Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville. The commercial adhesives, urea formaldehyde (UF), phenol formaldehyde (FF) and Acacia mearnsi tannin were obtained by donation by respective manufacturing companies, while the tannins of barbatimao were obtained in the laboratory. The adhesives had the adhesives properties determined. OSB panels were produced, with the adhesives urea-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde, tannin-formaldehyde from Acacia and Stryphnodendron . The panels were produced with strand particles generated from pine wood with an adhesive content of 8% at a 40 kgf.cm-2 of pressure, a time and pressing temperature of 8 minutes and 160°C, respectively. In all of the properties evaluated, the performance of the panels made with tannic adhesive from barbatimao was better when compared to panels manufactured with the tannic adhesive from acacia. The panels produced with urea-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde and tannic adhesive of barbatimao met all requirements stipulated by the marketing standard. Fact that shows great use potential for tannin of barbatimao for OSB panels production.