Fungal Inoculation | Fungal Pathogens | Bio-Inoculants Formulation | Physico-Chemical | Risk Management
Fungal pathogens are disease-causing fungi that infect plants, animals, or humans, leading to tissue damage, growth abnormalities, or death. In the context of agarwood production and forestry , fungal pathogens are particularly important both as threats (to be managed) and as tools (like Fusarium oxysporum used as an artificial inducer of agarwood resin formation).
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGAL PATHOGENS
Group Example Genera Disease Type Relevance Ascomycota Fusarium, Colletotrichum Wilt, Anthracnose Fusarium is used in agarwood induction Basidiomycota Rhizoctonia, Ustilago Damping off, Smuts Soilborne diseases in young trees Zygomycota Rhizopus Soft rot Rare in trees, more in fruits Oomycetes *Phytophthora, Pythium Root rot, damping off Not true fungi , but fungus-like pathogens
FUNGAL PATHOGENS IN AGARWOOD (Aquilaria spp.)
Pathogen Type Effect Notes Fusarium oxysporum Vascular wilt fungus Causes localized xylem blockage & necrosis Used in agarwood inoculation (bioinducer) Lasiodiplodia theobromae Wound pathogen Stem cankers, dieback, wood decay May occur naturally in agarwood trees Phellinus noxius White root rot fungus Root decay, tree death Serious forestry pathogen in SE Asia Ganoderma spp. Basidiomycete (rot) Basal stem/root rot Difficult to control; causes death Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Foliar/fruit pathogen Leaf anthracnose, twig blight Common but less lethal in Aquilaria
ROLES IN AGARWOOD INDUSTRY
Pathogen Role Fungi Involved Application Induced resin production Fusarium, Penicillium Inoculant development for artificial oud Natural infection Lasiodiplodia, Ganoderma May trigger resin but difficult to control Bioassay challenge Fusarium spp. Used in R&D for resistance screening
CONTROL STRATEGIES
Preventive care : Good plantation hygiene, avoid injury to stemsBiocontrol : Use of Trichoderma spp. to suppress harmful fungiChemical fungicides : Limited in use due to impact on resin developmentResin-induction : Intentional use of mild pathogens to stimulate agarwood (e.g., Fusarium oxysporum )
