Information from the First International Agarwood Conference
A field trip to the top of Nui Giai mountain provided the participants of the First International Agarwood Conference the opportunity to see Aquilaria trees growing in plantations and to view the results of our agarwood inducement techniques. Here Professor Blanchette is describing methods used to induce agarwood.
A cross section of an Aquilaria tree that was wounded but not treated is shown in the photo. This control tree shows clear white wood and no agarwood formation when it was cut 17 months after wounding.
Cross section from a very fast growing tree with high vigor that had also been treated in June 2002 (cut 17 months later). The resin production is more localized in this tree than the section shown above but very thick bands of agarwood were produced. These results show the great potential for cultivating agarwood in young plantation grown trees and the success of the methods used.
Trees from two different experiments were harvested during the conference field trip to demonstrate how much resin was formed 6 months or 17 months after wounding and treatment. These trees were 4 to 5 years old when treated.
This tree was wounded and treated in May 2003 and cut during the conference field trip (6 months later). A relatively large area of dark resinous wood can be seen within the tree. The highest concentrations of resin occur at the edges of the dark zone.
The conference was an excellent opportunity for people from around the world to discuss the sustainable production of agarwood for the future. Professor Blanchette is with Japanese incense and fragrance experts Mr. Masataka Hata (Shoyeido Incense Co.) and Mr. Kyozaburo Nakata (Baieido Co.) in an Aquilaria plantation.
Sections of the trees were cut for the conference participants and some of the resinous wood was burned to demonstrate the fine aroma produced by the cultivated agarwood. In this photo Joel Jurgens from the University of Minnesota is displaying wood with resin from the experimental trials.
A cross section from a tree treated in June 2002 and cut in November 2003 (17 months) showing large masses of dark resin. The dark black zone has the greatest concentration of resin. Note that in 18 months the tree has produced a considerable amount of new wood that appears white.
View of mountains in Vietnam where experiments are underway.