Honeycomb and Ring Failure in Bacterially Infected Red Oak Lumber after Kiln Drying.

Northern red oak Quercus rubra L. lumber from trees with heartwood infected by certain anaerobic bacteria proved more susceptible to honeyconb and ring failure during kiln drying than similar lumber from non-infected heartwood. Before drying, infected heartwood that was sound and clear of stains appeared the same as non-infected heartwood. However, the infected wood could be distinguished from non-infected green wood by having abnormal sour vinegar and rancid odors which result from volatile fatty acid production by the anaerobic bacteria. Author