Protection of bamboo against mould using environment-friendly chemicals

The protection of the bamboo species Bambusa stenostachya, Bambusa procera, Dendrocalamus asper and Thyrostachys siamensis against moulds was tested with environment-friendly chemicals under practical conditions. Bamboo samples were treated with several organic acids. Mould growth on the specimens was evaluated 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after exposure at the storage site of the Bamboo Nature Company, Binh Duong province, South Vietnam. Treatments with 10% acetic acid and 7% propionic acid completely inhibited mould growth on B. stenostachya and T. siamensis. For full protection of B. procera and D. asper, 10% propionic acid was needed.