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The First Report on Agarwood Formation of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng Induced by Fusarium equiseti

Summary

Researchers successfully induced agarwood (a valuable medicinal resin) formation in Chinese agar trees using a fungus called Fusarium equiseti. Through careful analysis, they found the fungus triggered production of beneficial compounds like agarotetrol and aromatic sesquiterpenes within 12 months, matching quality standards for medicinal use. This breakthrough offers a sustainable alternative to harvesting rare wild agarwood, potentially helping both human health and forest conservation.

Background

Aquilaria sinensis is the exclusive botanical source of Chinese agarwood, a medicinally valuable resin. Natural agarwood formation occurs in less than 7% of wild populations, prompting the need for artificial induction methods. Fungal inoculation has emerged as a promising technique for sustainable agarwood production.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the agarwood-inducing potential of Fusarium equiseti strain in A. sinensis through morphological and molecular characterization, and to validate resin biosynthesis dynamics and quality parameters against national standards.

Results

F. equiseti induced progressive accumulation of agarotetrol (0.034-0.039%), characteristic sesquiterpenes (β-Eudesmol increased 93%), and aromatic compounds consistent with natural agarwood. At 12 months, ethanol extractives reached 17.69% and chromone derivatives totaled 2.13%, meeting National Standard LY/T 3223-2020 specifications and significantly exceeding physical wounding and control treatments.

Conclusion

F. equiseti represents a promising microbial agent for sustainable agarwood production in A. sinensis plantations, achieving pharmacopeia-compliant quality within 12 months while demonstrating no observable tree decay or mortality during the experimental period.
  • Published in:Plants (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40805621, DOI: 10.3390/plants14152272
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