Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2000.1453.1458AshaariZaidonMamatNazri9200039Deterioration of Malaysian bamboos against biodeterioration agents and their service life have not been widely explored. This paper reveals the effect of traditional treatment on the resistance of selected bamboos towards white rot fungus and their durability in service. Bamboo culms of Dendrocalamus asper (Buluh betong), Bambusa vulgaris var. Striata (Buluh kuning) and Gigantochloa wrayi (Buluh beti) were soaked in running water for 2 and 3 weeks. The untreated cub) served as control for comparison. Each treatment group comprises 45 samples per species. The starch content of the bamboo was chemically analysed using UV-spectrophotometer. Higher starch content was found in untreated than the water-treated ones. The starch content reduced as the soaking period increases. The starch content for D. asper was 2.78% w/w, for G. wrayi was 2.28% and for B. vulgaris was 1.85%. After 3 weeks of soaking in water, the starch reduced to 0.7%, 0.93% and 0.73%, respectively. The weight loss of bamboo culms caused by white rot fungus (Pycnoporous sanguineusl and their service life were evaluated in accordance with ASTM Standards. The average weight loss for the untreated bamboo ranged from 13.2-15.9% and these values decreased as the soaking period increases Deterioration of bamboo caused by decay and termite can be seen as early as three months of exposure in the ground. Decay on water-treated bamboo was much slower than on untreated. But for termite attacks, there is no definite trend. Among the three species, G. wrayi sustained the longest service life when in contact with ground.]]>Mohmod, A.L., W.A.W. Tarmeze and M.A. Norazah,1990Proceedings of the 4th National Symposium on Analytical Chemistry,1990pp: 2733Mohmod, A.L.,1996Some selected properties of two Malaysian bamboo species in relation to age, height, site and seasonal variation.1996Othman, A.R., A.L. Mohmod, W. Liese and H. Norini,1995Planting and utilization of bamboo in Peninsular Malaysia.1995Sajap, A.S., S. Amit and J. Welker,2000Coptotermes curvignathus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Malaysia.]]>J. Econ. Entomol.,93429433Anonymous,1972American society for testing material: Accelerated laboratory test natural decay resistance of woods.1972Anonymous,1974American society for testing material: Evaluating wood preservative by field tests with stakes.1974Humphreys, F.R. and J. Kelly,1961Anal. Chim. Acta,246670Jamaludin, K., H.A.A. Jalil, A.J. Ashar and A.L. Mohmod,1992Gigantochloa scortechinii (buluh semantan).]]>Proceedings of the 1st National Bamboo Seminar on Towards the Management, Conservation, Marketing and Utilization of Bamboos,1992pp: 182185Jamaludin, K.,1999Properties of particleboard and particle-filled thermoplastic composite from bamboo.1999Kumar, S., K.S. Shukla and P.B. Dobriyal,1990J. Timb. Dev. Assoc. (India),36514Kumar, S., K.S. Shukla and P.B. Dobriyal,1994Bamboo preservation techniques: A review.1994Liese, W.,1985Bamboos: Biology, Silvics, Properties, Utilization.Pages: 132Pages: 132Liese, W.,1987Anatomy and Properties of Bamboo.1987pp: 196-208pp: 196-208Mathew, G. and K.S.S. Nair,1990Storage Pests of Bamboos in Kerala.1990pp: 212-214pp: 212-214Sulthoni, A.,1985Proceedings of the 3rd International Bamboo Workshop,1985pp: 349357Tomalang, F.N., A.R. Lopez, J.A. Semara, R.F. Casin and Z.B. Espiloy,1980Proceedings of the International Seminar on Bamboo Research in Asia,1980pp: 196197Zaidon, A., S.M. Hamami and Y. Norzaliza,2000Proceedings of the International Bamboo Seminar,2000pp: 154163Gnanaharan, R., C. Mohanan and C.S. Basha,1993BIC India Bull.,316