SSR Inst. Int. J. Life. Sci. ISSN (O): 2581-8740 | ISSN (P): 2581-8732
Mubeen et al., 2019
DOI:10.21276/SSR-IIJLS.2019.5.5.5
Copyright © 2015 - 2019| SSR-IIJLS by Society for Scientific Research under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International License Volume 05 | Issue 05 | Page 2402
Management of Termites Using Wood Extractives and Microbes: A
Mini Review
Mustansar Mubeen
1,2*
, Yasir Iftikhar
2
, Sunny Ahmar
3
, Aqleem Abbas
1
, Farazia Hassan
4
, Mohammad Murtaza
Alami
5
1
Research Scholar, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of
Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei, P.R. China
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100,
Pakistan
3
Research Scholar, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science and Technology,
Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei, P.R. China
4
Student, Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Virtual University of Pakistan, Samundri
Campus, Samundri, Pakistan
5
Student, College of Plant Science and Technology, Department of Crop cultivation and Farming system, Huazhong
Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P.R. China
*Address for Correspondence: Mr. Mustansar Mubeen, Research Scholar, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural
Microbiology and Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and
Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan-430070, Hubei, P.R. China
E-mail: mustansar01@yahoo.com
Received: 19 Apr 2019/ Revised: 31 Jul 2019/ Accepted: 29 Aug 2019
ABSTRACT
Termites play an important role in the world ecosystem. These are of great importance and feed on surface debris such as twigs,
bark chips dried grasses, and leaves. These are common wood eaters, damaging the wood and wood bases of building materials.
Since the supply of wood is limited, it is necessary to protect the wood and wood products from biological deterioration.
Treatment of wood with synthetic chemicals has been a practice to impart durability to the wood. The conventional wood
preservatives although are effective against wood destroying organisms but their abundant use has tragic effects on the
environment. The relationship between the chemical structure of active components from wood extractives and microbes
responsible for termite control, In conclusion plants showing strong termiticidal activity against these wood eating bugs.
Key-words: Biological deterioration, Wood decay, Termites, Extractives and microorganisms, Termiticidal activity
INTRODUCTION
Wood is an extremely important natural structural
organic material consisting primarily of hemicellulose
and cellulose
[1]
. Cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose make
three-dimensional biopolymer complex. Most of the
chemical and physical properties of wood are due to
these biopolymers. Due to its strong physical strength,
low cost of processing and aesthetically attractive
characters’ wood is one of the most preferred materials.
How to cite this article
Mubeen M, Iftikhar Y, Ahmar S, Abbas A, Hassan F, Alami MM.
Management of Termites Using Wood Extractives and Microbes: A
Mini Review. SSR Inst. Int. J. Life. Sci., 2019; 5(5): 2402-2411.
Access this article online
https://iijls.com/
Nature designed the cellular structure of wood that on
weight for weight basis it is as strong as steel.
Widespread utilization of wood species in the world is
limited because of its low resistance to bio-deterioration
[2]
. Wood is mostly degraded by termites, bacteria and
fungi because wood contains lignocellulose as main
structural polymer and is well broken down by hindgut
bacteria or protozoa of termites
[3]
. Cellulosic plant
material is attacked by all termite species
[4]
. The
cellulose of wood is easily digested by termite with the
help of cellulose decomposing bacteria found in their
gut. While searching for their basic food cellulose they
can attack non-cellulose materials like rubber, plastics,
and even thin metal though these do not serve as their
principal food sources and cause significant loss to
human interests. Moist wood is attacked by
Mini-Review