Research on Inducing Agarwood Formation in Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex. Lecomte Trees Using Fungal and Chemical Methods in South of Vietnam

Abstract

Introduction: The agarwood tree, also known as the incense tree (Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lecomte), is a valuable specialty tree that grows naturally in Vietnamese forests. It is classified as a rare and precious timber tree (Group 1A) requiring conservation and prohibited from exploitation. Aim: Traditionally, people cultivate agarwood trees from seeds; however, not all trees grown from seeds produce agarwood. Discovering, researching, and developing agarwood-producing agarwood varieties, combined with agarwood-inducing treatments, is a method to improve the effectiveness of agarwood cultivation. Results: Sensory analysis showed that treatment with chlorine yielded high results in two out of three locations. Treatments with fungi and chemicals showed typical changes in the wood around the wound, especially chloride. The list of isolated fungi contained many imperfect and exogenous species. Analysis of agarwood essential oil revealed diverse compounds with ketone, alcohol, and aldehyde bases. Conclusion: Fungal and chemical treatment preparations stimulate the agarwood formation process.