Incipient Decay

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-014017",
  "term": "Incipient Decay",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "The early stage of decay in which degradation has not proceeded far enough to soften the wood or to cause a perceptible reduction in hardness. Such strength properties as toughness or impact strength are appreciably reduced in wood with incipient decay, but the damage is not normally visible to the naked eye.",
  "references": [
    "USDA Forest Service Field Guide to Insects and Diseases of Arizona and New Mexico Forests Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/incipient-decay/"
}