BIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF SOUTH SULAWESI COMMUNITY WOODS AGAINST A WOOD DETERIORATION ORGANISM: MARINE BORER

This research aims to analyze the natural resistance of community woods against marine borer, namely Diospyros sp., Calophyllum inophyllum, Dillenia indica, Albizia falcataria (L) Fosberg, and Vitex cofasssus. A total of 30 samples with sizes of 5 cm x 5 cm x 30 cm prepared. All samples were arranged using a plastic strap and immersed at a depth of 3 m in the sea for 3 months. At the end of the bioassay, the biological performance of the wood samples was analyzed by obtaining the attack intensity and weight loss of the samples. The results showed that all the samples were attacked by marine borer in various intensity, thereby leading to various weight loss. D. indica showed the lowest attack intensity and weight loss compared to the other species. On the contrary, A. falcataria (L) Fosberg showed the highest attack intensity and weight loss. Therefore, in conclusion, D. indica and A. falcataria (L) Fosberg has the highest and lowest natural resistance against marine borer attack, compared to the other wood species. The various types of organisms that attack the samples were Teredo navalis (Teredinidae) and Martesia striata Linn (Pholadidae).