Monitoring and analyzing resin induction metrics after microbial inoculation is essential for evaluating efficiency, resin quality, and tree health. Metrics combine biological, chemical, and operational parameters to optimize protocols.
1. Key Success Metrics
| Metric | Description | Target / Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Resin Initiation Time | Time from inoculation to first visible resin formation | Shorter initiation indicates higher inoculation efficacy |
| Resin Yield | Weight or volume of resin per wound/tree | Higher yield = more effective strain or method |
| Resin Spread / Coverage | Area of resin deposition in cm² | Uniform spread indicates proper inoculation and tree response |
| Tree Health Index | Visual assessment of stress, wound healing, and survival rate | High survival with minimal stress indicates sustainable inoculation |
| Resin Quality | Physical (density, color, texture) and chemical (sesquiterpene/chromone content) | Higher chemical marker levels correlate with premium grades |
| Wound Recovery Rate | Speed of wound closure or callus formation around inoculation site | Faster recovery supports tree longevity and repeat inoculation potential |
| Environmental Response Correlation | Correlation of resin yield with temperature, rainfall, soil moisture | Helps optimize planting and inoculation timing |
| Fungal Establishment Success | Evidence of fungal colonization in wood tissue | Confirms inoculum viability and effectiveness |
2. Data Analysis Approaches
A. Descriptive Statistics
- Calculate mean, median, range, and standard deviation for resin yield, spread, and chemical markers.
- Helps compare performance across strains, trees, or methods.
B. Correlation Analysis
- Examine relationships between resin yield, induction time, and environmental factors.
- Identify factors that positively or negatively influence success.
C. Comparative Analysis
- Compare different inoculation methods (drilling, injection, dual-action inoculants).
- Evaluate tree genotypes or age groups for resin response.
D. Quality Metrics Analysis
- Use GC-MS/HPLC data to quantify sesquiterpene and chromone content.
- Calculate resin chemical score for ranking trees or batches.
3. Interpretation Guidelines
- Short Induction Time + High Resin Yield → High inoculation efficiency.
- High Resin Spread with Uniform Distribution → Effective inoculation technique and fungal colonization.
- Tree Health Maintained → Method is sustainable for repeated applications.
- High Sesquiterpene and Chromone Levels → Resin suitable for premium-quality oil or commercial grading.
- Low Resin or Delayed Induction → May indicate:
- Suboptimal inoculum concentration
- Poor tree genotype or age
- Environmental stress or inadequate post-care
4. Decision-Making Based on Metrics
- Refine protocols: Adjust inoculum type, concentration, or wound method.
- Select elite trees: Prioritize high-resin phenotypes for propagation.
- Optimize plantation management: Correlate environmental data with induction outcomes for better scheduling.
- Monitor sustainability: Ensure repeated inoculation does not compromise tree health.
5. Visualization of Results
- Graphs and charts:
- Resin yield per tree over time (line chart)
- Resin spread vs. inoculation method (bar chart)
- Chemical marker content vs. tree genotype (scatter plot)
- Heat maps: Correlate environmental conditions with resin production success.
- Cumulative ROI chart: Link resin yield to potential economic returns per tree or plantation block.
6. Key Takeaways
- Success metrics combine quantitative (yield, chemical content) and qualitative (tree health, resin color, aroma)data.
- Analysis supports evidence-based optimization of inoculation strategies.
- Interpretation must consider tree genotype, age, inoculum, environment, and post-care practices.
- Proper metric analysis enables sustainable, high-quality, and profitable agarwood production.