Recent Advancement in Agarwood Induction Technology: A Comprehensive Review for the Transformation of Artificial Agar Resin Induction Methods

Abstract

Agarwood is a high valued resinous wood containing aromatic constituents of sesquiterpenes and phenyl-ethylchromones. They are typically found in the wood tissue of Thymalaeaceae family trees such as Aquilaria and Gyrinops species once they have been physically or chemically damaged or diseased by microbial pathogens. However, the natural occurrence based agarwood production is inadequate to fulfill the worldwide market demand as it never reach to the potential yield. As a result, recent advancements in artificial agarwood induction technology have led to the efficient production of agarwood resin, surpassing conventional methods. These technologies include mechanical, biological, and chemical methods, as well as combinations of these techniques such as fungal inoculation, nailing, drilling, partly trunk pruning, aeration method, agar-wit, C-A kits, Agar-sit, Bottle dipping, ChemJet, Pinhole infusion, Automated transfusion, Agar-Bit and Bamboo stick method. While interdisciplinary approaches have pros and cons, chemical inducers have shown rapid invasion inside particular tree species trunks to produce superior agarwood resin at consistent rate. Therefore, diverse forms of inducers can be utilized to develop this finest fragrance resinous wood in cultivated trees within a short period of time compared to the natural approach and almost similar in the quality compared to the natural agarwood formations. The objective of this review paper was to presents a comprehensive collection of agarwood resin inducing methods and their potential to enhance the total production and the quality of agarwood in the final harvest. The application of these techniques has significant implications to the agarwood industry as it seeks to meet the growing global demand for this highly sought-after and valuable product leading to a high profitable business. Therefore, this review article serves as a valuable collection of resource for the researchers and industry professionals who are ambitious to develop their agarwood industry to a new level.

Origin and diversification of Aquilaria (Thymelaeaceae): inferences from a phylogenetic study based on matK sequences

“…Agarwood is also used as a preservative for a variety of other items and accessories in many Asian countries [6,7]. The rising global demand for agarwood has resulted in increased exploitation of these commodities [8][9][10]. Unfortunately, this overexploitation has created a serious threat to the natural populations of agarwood producing species.…”

Advancing Efficiency and Consistency in Agarwood Inoculum Production through Agarwood-Induce Inoculum Mixing Machine

“…These methods encompass both natural and man-made approaches. Natural inoculation events are infrequent, making it imperative to resort to artificial inoculation methods, especially when considering commercial agarwood production (Herath and Jinendra, 2023b).…”

“…Artificial agarwood induction stands as a highly effective means of ensuring a productive agarwood yield in the context of commercial agarwood plantations (Turjaman et al, 2016). A plethora of methods have been developed for this purpose, and within the global commercial agarwood industry, various techniques find widespread application (Herath and Jinendra, 2023b). These include nailing, drilling, aeration, the agar-wit and agar-sit methods, partial trunk pruning, burning-chisel drilling, and fungal inoculation, among others, which are commonly employed on a global scale (Chowdhury et al, 2016).…”

“…Once introduced, the site is wrapped with rubberized fabric to secure the culture. This method ensures systematic and controlled agarwood production in commercial plantations, optimizing yields and product quality (Herath and Jinendra, 2023b).…”

“…Issues such as frequent nozzle blockages due to solid particles in the inoculum have been observed. The inconsistency in texture and the use of standard caulking guns led to frequent malfunctions (Herath and Jinendra, 2023b). The root cause was identified as poorly blended solid particles in the inoculum paste.…”