Agarwood: The Most Expensive Wood Fragrant
The growth of Agarwood/Oud
Agarwood/Oud is the result of pathological, wounding and no pathological processes (According to Ng et al.1997). Resin is in response to wounding, that fungal infection can increase resin production as a host reponse to increased damage due to fungal growth. Aquilaria trees are naturally infected by a variety of fungi including: Aspergillus spp., Botryodyplodia spp., Diplodi a spp., Fusarium bulbiferum ,F.laterium, F. oxysporum , F. solani , Penicillium spp., and Pythium spp. (Anon.,1998a; Santoso, 1996, cited in Soehartono and Mardiastuti, 1997; Wiriadinata, 1995).
The age of the tree, different in the tree caused by seasonal, environment and genetic variation of Aquilaria that is the important reason in Agarwood/Oud formed.Not all Aquilaria trees produce Agarwood/Oud, only 10% of mature trees above 20 cm diameter . Addition, the infected trees produce resin from the age 20 years onwards. Sadgopal (1960, cited in Soehartono, 1997) suggesting the best Agarwood/Oud from trees aged 50 years and over. However, the research by The Rainforest Project (TRP) in Vietnam have shown that Agarwood/Oud formation can occur in cultivated trees as young as three years of age.
This is the picture of Aquilaria from immature to mature in Vietnam:
Agarwood/Oud: The Most Expensive Wood Fragrant
Because Agarwood/Oud has been use in many field with a special value. Agarwood/Oud in Medicine, Agarwood/Oud in perfume and Agarwood/Oud is use in as incense in Buddhist, Muslims and Hindus religious ceremonies. About 10% of mature tree can produce Agarwood/Oud, and the process takes place for many year. The artisans are very careful to harvest Agarwood/Oud that is the most expensive wood fragrant.
In Medicine: Agarwood/Oud is used as an ingredient for treating asthma, pleurisy, rheumatism. The Agarwood/Oud is also know to be beneficial to stomach, the liver and lungs. Agarwood/Oud has been used as high quality incense. Agarwood/Oud scent is a sweet, deep but balanced fragrance as a result the Agarwood/Oud price is high in the market. The products of Agarwood/Oud has been use are: essential oils, beads, soaps, shampoos …Addition the trading also takes in the form of wood, wood chips, powder and oil. The Agarwood/Oud oil is special oil used in Muslim religious ceremonies.
