What Are Secondary Metabolites?
- They are special chemicals a tree makes when stressed or attacked.
- Not for growth like sugars or proteins.
- Purpose: Protect the tree from fungi, insects, or injury.
Farmer-friendly analogy:
“Think of them as the tree’s natural medicine or perfume that it makes to defend itself.”
Two Important Types in Agarwood
A. Sesquiterpenes
- Small, oily chemicals inside resin
- Give most of the fragrance of agarwood
- Can be extracted as essential oils
- Dark, sticky, and aromatic
Farmer tip:
The stronger the smell in the wood, the more sesquiterpenes it has — higher value!
B. Chromones
- Another group of chemicals in the resin
- Responsible for color changes in the wood (brown to black)
- Support resin hardening and stability
- Less smell than sesquiterpenes but essential for premium resin
Farmer tip:
Wood that is dark, heavy, and aromatic has a good mix of chromones and sesquiterpenes.
Why Farmers Should Care
- More secondary metabolites = higher grade agarwood
- These chemicals are what buyers pay for
- Your goal during induction: help the tree make sesquiterpenes + chromones safely
Simple Visual Explanation
- Tree is stressed → produces resin inside wood
- Resin = mixture of:
- Sesquiterpenes → smell (fragrance)
- Chromones → color & density
- Dark + fragrant wood = premium agarwood