What Are Chemical Elicitors?
Chemical elicitors are substances applied to the tree to create controlled stress, telling the tree:
“You are under attack — activate defense.”
They do not create resin directly.
They trigger the tree to make resin by itself.
Purpose of Chemical Elicitors
Chemical elicitors are used to:
- Strengthen the stress signal after wounding
- Extend the tree’s defense response
- Support resin formation when microbes are weak or absent
They are often used together with mechanical wounding.
Common Types of Chemical Elicitors (Conceptual)
A. Oxidative Stress Inducers
- Create internal “alarm signals”
- Increase defense chemical production
B. Mineral-Based Elicitors
- Certain metal ions stress the tree at low levels
- Common examples: manganese, iron
C. Acidic or Saline Stressors
- Change pH or salt balance locally
- Force defensive reaction
Dose is critical — too much kills the tree.
What Chemical Elicitors Actually Do Inside the Tree
- Enter through wound
- Cause controlled irritation
- Trigger oxidative stress
- Activate immune response
- Resin production begins
No immune response = no resin.
Benefits & Limits
Benefits
✔ Faster response than wounding alone
✔ More uniform resin zones
✔ Useful where microbes are unreliable
Limits
✘ Overuse causes toxicity
✘ Weak aroma if used alone
✘ Can lower quality if rushed
Farmer Key Message
“Chemicals wake the tree —
but only the tree makes resin.”
Best Practice for Farmers
✔ Use only approved / tested elicitors
✔ Follow exact dosage
✔ Combine with biological induction when possible
✔ Seal holes after application
Common Mistakes
✘ Using unknown or mixed chemicals
✘ Applying high concentration
✘ Repeating too often
✘ Expecting instant results
Chemical vs Biological Induction (Simple)
| Method | Speed | Quality | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical only | Slow | Low | Low |
| Chemical elicitors | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Biological (fungi) | Slow–medium | High | Low–medium |
| Combined (best) | Balanced | High | Controlled |