1️⃣ What is Agarwood?
Biology & Natural Resin Production
✅ Agarwood (Aquilaria spp.) is a fragrant, resinous heartwood formed in response to stress or infection.
✅ The resin is produced as a defense mechanism when the tree is affected by:
- Fungal infection (e.g., Fusarium species)
- Physical injury (cuts, wounds, or drilling)
- Environmental stress (lightning strikes, pest attacks)
Resin Composition:
- Contains sesquiterpenes, chromones, and phenylethyl chromones.
- These compounds give Oud oil its distinct aroma & medicinal properties.
Natural vs. Induced Formation:
✔ Natural Formation – Takes decades to develop naturally in wild trees.
✔ Induced Formation – Artificial methods accelerate resin production in plantation-grown trees.
2️⃣ Resin Induction Techniques
Artificial vs. Natural Resin Formation Methods
Traditional Methods:
- Girdling & Wounding – Creating physical cuts in the tree.
- Inoculation with Fungi – Introducing fungal spores to trigger resin formation.
Modern Techniques:
✅ Chemical Induction – Applying plant hormones & biochemical stimulants.
✅ Microbial Induction – Using engineered microbes to stimulate resin biosynthesis.
✅ Electro-Mechanical Induction – High-frequency waves to mimic natural stress conditions.
Why Artificial Induction?
✔ Reduces Agarwood formation time from decades to a few years.
✔ Ensures sustainability, reducing reliance on wild-harvested trees.
✔ Increases quality control & standardization for high-value oud oil.
3️⃣ Innovative Propagation Techniques
Tissue Culture & Organogenesis for Agarwood Production
Tissue Culture (Micropropagation):
- Producing genetically identical, disease-free Agarwood seedlings.
- Ensures mass production of elite trees with high resin yield.
Organogenesis (COPI’s Specialization):
- Regenerating whole trees from callus tissue or explants.
- Faster and more efficient than traditional propagation.
Impact on the Industry:
✅ Conserves genetic diversity of Agarwood species.
✅ Increases supply of high-quality planting materials.
✅ Supports reforestation efforts while ensuring commercial viability.
Advancing Agarwood Science & Technology
✔ Expand R&D on faster, more efficient resin induction methods.
✔ Strengthen university & industry collaborations (CvSU, DLSU, CLSU).
✔ Promote biotechnology-driven solutions to enhance Agarwood production.