Fungus Treatment of Agar

Traditional knowledge suggests that fungi growing in a wounded aquilaria tree may cause Agarwood formation. Different types of fungi have been suggested including:

• Phialophora parasitica, 
• Torula sp.,
• Aspergillus sp.,
• Penicillium sp.,
• Fusarium sp.,
• Cladosporium sp.,
• Epicoccum granulatum, Cylimndrocladium,
• Sphaeropsis sp.,
• Botryodiplodia theobromae,
• Trichoderma sp.,
• Phomopsis sp., and
• Cunninghamella echinulata.
With all of these fungi suggested as a possible cause and no clear definitive research to show that a fungus is responsible for Agarwood to form, researchers have indicated "that aguru arises from a much more generalized cause than previously envisaged" (Gibson, Bano Biggyan Patrika 6:16-26 (1977)).
Agarwood is derived from the diseased timber of Aquilaria spp of the family Thymelaeaceae. Cutting or burning may be the way to infect fungi naturally in the wood tissue in vivo tree. The fungus Melanotus flavolivens has successfully been used to induce artificially the formation of Agarwood in Aquilaria sinensis in vivo. When the wood tissue of A. Sinensis was infected with the fungus M. flavolivens the color of infected wood tissue was first change from white to brown. (China – ASEAN workshop on Conservation and Biotechnology Application of Tropical Resource, Haikou, China, October 2004
- Aquilaria crassna, A. cumingiana, A. beccariana, A. hirta, A. malaccensis, A. microcarpa and A. rugosa
- Neighboring genera of the same family: Aetoxylon, Amyxa, Gonystylus, Gyrinops, Phaleria and perhaps genera Linostoma and Wikstroemia produce a resin after infection with fungi into the phloem and then spread to hardwood species with resin production into the phloem after fungus infection.

Lao PDR will be the sustainable market of Agarwood products by year 2015.
The price of Agarwood after fungal infection of Aquilaria plantation:

 

Agarwood (Oudh)

Agarwood is reputed to be the most expensive wood in the world. There are many names for the resinous, fragrant heartwood produced primarily by trees in the genus Aquilaria. Most commonly, the resin is known as agarwood, aloeswood, eaglewood, gaharu, agalocha or oudh (In Arabic).

                Agarwood has been used to make high quality incense since centuries. The Chinese describe its smell as "a sweet, deep but balanced fragrance" and use it in religious and festive celebrations, and so do Arabian, Indian and Japanese people. Agarwood is also part of many traditional pharmacopoeias, dating back to medieval times and Chinese doctors still prescribe it for colds and disgestion problem. Oil extracted from agarwood is used in Arabian countries as a perfume.

                 Agarwood is a resinous heartwood that occurs in trees belonging to the species of Aquilaria, Aetoxylon (A.symeatalum) and Gonystylus genus of Thymelaeceae family. However, species of the genus Aquilaria are mostly known for the production of agarwood - it's a fast growing, evergreen tree.

 

                Agarwood or oudh forms as a reaction to fungal or bacterial attack. Trees, ocassionally become infected with a parasite mould secrete a fragrant, protective oil into wounded areas (roots, branches or sections of the trunk), which gradually become harder and dark brown to black. The heartwood (central part of a tree, which is darker in color than the sapwood) is relatively light and pale color before infection. Normally harvesters would cut only the infected parts in the hope that the tree would produce more of this resinous wood.

                                                 

                                  Aquilaria species that produce agarwood are found throughout Asia, while occur naturally in South and Southeast Asia. The Indian sub-continent was the main source of agarwood for many centuries but as trees became scarce in the middle of the twentieth century, extraction intensified in Indochina. Later on it was extended to Indonesia and Malaysia. Today Agarwood plantations exist in a number of countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Vietnam.

It can grow on a wide range of soils, including poor sandy soil. Seedlings of most species establish best in shady, moist conditions, but large adult trees sometimes become emergent in the forest and can withstand full sun. Some species can be found growing on steep, rocky, exposed slopes, and in regions that experience a hot, dry season. The trees grow to 6-20 m tall.

The leaves are alternate, 5-11 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, with a short acuminate apex and an entire margin. The flowers are yellowish-green, produced in an umbel, the fruit is a woody capsule 2.5-3 cm long. At least fifteen species of Aquilaria trees are known to produce Agarwood.Aquillaria Malacenensis is considered to be the queen of Indonesian oudh. This tree can grow about 40 M or 131.23 ft in height with its diameter 80 cm. It is the best producer of agarwood resin and oil in Indonesia.

Agarwood is exported in various forms (wood chips, powder, oil and as finished products such as perfumes, incense and medicines), and the main importers are countries in the Middle and Far East - in particular the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia (where agarwood is known as oudh), as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

EXTRACTION METHOD

   There are three methods through which agarwood oil is distilled namely, hydro-distillation, steam distillation and super critical CO2 extraction. However, the most common methods of distillation are hydro-distillation and steam distillation. Another thing that has its mark on the distillation of the oil is the age of the tree. Older trees have a higher resin content and just like a wine, old resin gets better with age. Speaking of the grading of agarwood oil, the best quality oil comes out from first distillation and after this the wood undergoes for second distillation and hence, it is graded accordingly the number of times it is cooked.

Oil coming from steam distillation is said to lack the three-dimensional smoky quality which comes from hydro-distilled oil. In both methods, after the oil has been distilled, it is filtered, sunned, and aged for a while. The more the oil aged, the better it will smell.

When is it needed to develop synthetic substitutes?

Development of synthetic substitutes usually arises when sustainable supplies of the natural product are not available and are expensive at the same time. Since, Agarwood cannot be synthesized, chemical substitutes are already available for perfume these are cheap and constitute the least profitable end of the market. In addition, these products do not come even close in mimicking the natural product. The major chemical components responsible for the characteristic scent of Agarwood products, sesquiterpenes, can in principle be synthesized. However, these are very complicated structures that will be extremely expensive to synthesize, which makes it commercially completely unattractive.

So the major difference in fragrances of oudh oil and synthetic oudh can be distinguished easily. Oudh smells heavenly, woody and balsamic and surrounds a warm aura of bitter sweet and woody nuance. Whereas, synthetic oudh smells plain woody, leathry and lacks that warm balsmic aura.

Economic cultivation of agarwoods

the demand for agarwood far exceeds supply. A 2007 study revealed that supply rates are only 40% of the demand and a litre of agarwood oil can be sold for around $US10,000 – 14,000 on the market (Vietnam Chemical Technology Institute, 2007). Indeed agarwood is reputed to be the most expensive wood in the world and it is estimated that specialized buyers are prepared to pay as much as ten times more for this product.

Agarwood is exported in various forms (wood chips, powder, oil and as finished products such as perfumes, incense and medicines), and the main importers are countries in the Middle and Far East – in particular the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia (where agarwood is known as oudh), as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

While agarwood trees are growing ,intercrops such as patchouli, sugandhmantri, turmeric, ginger etc can be grown .You can compare 9-10 years of cultivated agarwood cultivation to 25-30 years of teakwood or sandalwood cultivation with more income potential in case of the former.

A 10 year old tree may yield around 100 kgs of useful wood which can be graded as distillable, semi infected and resinous woods. The value of wood in the international market range from a few dollars a kilo for the lowest quality to over thousands of dollars for the top quality. 

Planting Methods

Agarwood suitable for planting in the lowland areas to the mountains at an altitude of 0 – 750 meters above sea level with an average rainfall of less than 2000cm.  Appropriate temperature is between 27 ° C to 32 ° C with a rate of 70% sunlight. Suitability of land types soft and sandy clay soil with a pH between 4.0 to 6.0.

Quality seeds are essential for the purpose of seeding; seeding is usually done by the nursery to ensure the supply of crop seeds in a large volume and long lasting. Agarwood the fruits of Aquilaria Malaccencis the form of capsules, 3. 5 cm to 5 cm long, ovoid and dark brown. The skin is quite hard and contains one to two seeds per fruit.

Agarwood tree species are evergreen plants and growing. It is suitable for planting in most soils except swampy soil and stagnant water. Agarwood trees can be planted on flat land and hilly areas. It can also be planted in oil palm plantations, coffee plantations and farms in the other trees, aged between 5-8 years. Cultivation techniques in the interval system or integrated with two or more crops can be done .Technique Agro forestry approach, Inter-row planting and hedge planting also can be done.

Planting technique is to dig a hole in the distance measure 6 feet x 6 feet, 10 feet x 10 feet, 10 feet x 15 feet and so on. It depends on the techniques of crop interval, integration, or the like. Seedlings removed from the polythene bag and placed in a hole dug with an area of 0.5 meters in diameter and depth. Surface soil compacted by hand to ensure close contact with the ground roots and avoid the flow of water at the surface (surface water). Fertilizer application rates should not exceed 100 gm for every hole, namely the rate of fertilizer NPK 15:15:15 by 40-50 gm and TSP by 40-50 gm during the planting process.

Aquilaria trees planted must be cleaned from the interference of other trees about 50 cm to avoid the competition of life. Work-job is done in 2-3 times a year to five years old trees. Plugging two times a year is very good for giving oxygen into the ground to facilitate the absorption of food by plants.

P

lanting Village Residence

If that is the ability to grow only on a small scale, agarwood trees planted in the villages that do not involve the purchase of land and does not require a fence, that is, the area is already fenced. The cost just to buy the seeds and care for trees to work. Planted at least 100 trees.

If you can sell wholesale without inoculated at a price of RM 1,000 at the end of the 5-6 years can be obtained gross proceeds of RM 100,000. Or grown only to who will be able to next generation. When aged 5-6 years, nailed the trees injured by stick to stimulate the creation of resin. The farmers cannot afford to inoculate trees themselves because their cost is too expensive. They do not often depend on wood trees would become resin but may cut it down and sold some of Agarwood oil distiller which operates in the village as well.

Here also comes the aid of AGARWOODS KERALA in the form of very affordable inoculation methods in a very subsided rate and proven advises from the experts.

our plantation

Plantation and coffee estate owners in kottayam(kerala) finally have a reason to cheer despite the decreasing prices of their produce.

For the last five to six years, a wonder plant agarwood has replaced the conventional silver oak in many coffee estates bringing handsome dividends to growers. 

Agarwood is a high value commercial crop which is in great demand in national and international markets.

The tree is used to make ittar (natural perfume oil) and perfume.

The outer part of the stem, which is of low quality is used to make incense sticks and in paper manufacturing industries.

An agarwood sapling is easy to grow as its maintenance is inexpensive and it gives yield in eight years.

Traditionally, almost all coffee growers in India plant silver oaks as an intercrop providing shade to other plants.  Recently, coffee plantations in Western Ghats and Malnad region have started planting agarwood. The origin of the tree can be traced to the evergreen forests of Southeast Asia. 

Agarwood was first introduced in South India by Vanadurgi Agarwood India Limited (VAIL) which was formed with its shares distributed among planters, promoters and Vanadurgi Flavours and Extracts (P) Limited.

The company is exclusively involved in the planting, processing and marketing of agarwood.

VAIL Managing Director K N Dharmendra Kumar told Express that the company has distributed more than one million agarwood saplings to 5,000 plus growers across eight districts in  Malnad region.

The company has entered into a buy-back agreement with farmers to provide good seedlings, technical guidance, artificial inoculation, setting up of processing units and purchase of their inventories.

He said that 150 to 200 agarwood trees can be planted in one acre plot of coffee, arecanut or coconut plantation. 

Anil Ponnappa, a progressive coffee planter in Madapura said he has planted 600 agarwood trees supplied by VAIL in his coffee estate. Another agarwood grower N Vishwanath in Sagar, Shimoga district said he has planted 15,000 saplings on his dry land a year ago. “Agarwood is a good alternative to other crops whose prices are falling these days,” he added.

Agarwood is costlier than sandalwood in the international market as it is in great demand in Gulf countries.

A sandalwood tree takes at least 25-30 years to fully grow while an agarwood  takes tree takes only 8-15 years.

The inner stem (resinous) of agarwood is valued at `10,000 per kg while agarwood oil costs Rs 10 lakh per kg in the international market.  Agarwood is priced according to the density of wood, resin, purity, aroma and colour. 

history of agarwood

Agarwoods (Kerala) Plantations Pvt. Ltd  is a company registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956,  primarily aims at the promotion of Agarwood cultivation and the production of various by-products of it by giving support and guidance to farmers at various stages from cultivation to finished final products.


*.History: We started our firm the Agar Woods Kerala, based at Kumily in Idukki district with another operating center in Palaghat district, in the year 2007 as a research based organization for conducting programmes leading to the introduction and evaluation of agar wood cultivation in the farm lands of Kerala state as well as for promoting the commercial cultivation of it in all the suitable agro-climatic zones.

In the early stages itself, we had tested  the  suitability of Agarwood trees in almost all agro-climatic zones of the state and found it as the best alternative to all the problems faced by the different crops and the different agricultural practices by the farmers in the state.

Now, in the grown-up stage, as a government registered company, Agarwoods (Kerala) Plantations Pvt. Ltd have our registered office at Koottanadu, in Palaghat district and have a strong support network of dealers spanning all the districts in Kerala state as well as a national level operating team comprising of state-wide distributors in other states in India.

*.Support Network: Agarwoods (Kerala) Plantations Pvt. Ltd has a dealer network covering all the 14 districts of Kerala as well as a number of franchisees under each district dealer.  We have widened our operations and have some state-wise distributors or tie-up with state governments or such governmental implementing agencies like Universities, Agricultural departments etc. for research, development and implementing processes in various places in India as well as countries like Sri Lanka, various Gulf countries etc.

What is Agarwood ? 

AGAR WOOD (Aloeswood or  Eaglewood or Gaharu or Oudh) known as “the wood of Gods“

The resinous, fragrant heartwood produced primarily by trees in the genus Aquilaria. This valuable and highly fragrant wood has been used in many ways for over two thousand years, especially as incense in Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic traditional ceremonies, and as a significant component of traditional Ayurvedic, Tibetan and Far Eastern medicine and Middle Eastern perfumes.

What we do at Agarwoods (Kerala) Plantations Pvt. Ltd 

Supply of Quality Seedlings

Planting Consulting

Artificial Inoculation, Fungal Treatment

Buy-back of mature wood

Production of value added or by-products

Need based visits to sites on farmer’s request

Support from planting to harvesting through the support network.....