Three methods of artificial inoculation used at Agarwoods Kerala Plantations are Fo2P, FI2S and Fo7D. All these three procedures have been researched and crafted by Mr. Shamsudheen. Sharing the details he says, "Fo2P is Pasting. In this we remove bark of the tree trunk and paste fungus. F 12S is Sticking. We store fungus in bamboo slide and insert the sticks all through the tree trunk. Fo7D is Drilling and Injecting. We inject fungus directly through the batter Fungus injected is all natural free from chemicals. All three also vary with respect to price. Manual injure or insect infestation in the stem leads to fungus infection. "To do so we have to wound the tree trunk, in these injure. fungus is injected. Stress condition in the tree enhances spreading infection so tree is pushed for the same. Consequently fungus infection through the damaged part of tree spreads and larger wood volume gets infected:' explicates Mr. Shamsudheen. "Colour around the wound changes from brown to dark implying infection process is progressing:' It usually takes 4-5 years for aquilaria tree to produce agarwood deep within its trunk. Whether to harvest or not, is the most difficult decision . it is impossible to know from the outer appearance of the tree if the agarwand is produced inside the trunk or not! "Tree needs to be sick to produce agarwood so it is wounded manually. The symptoms of tree sickness are particularly die-back symptom on the top and outer branches and a yellow tint to the woody tissues. Visible wounds, stem distortion, smaller leaves and rotten brandies also help in assurance of precious wood deposits inside the trunk he informs. "These symptoms imply sever fungus attack in aquilaria tree. Once these symptoms are seen easily then the tree opted for harvesting else left out if moderately sick Once the tree is selected for harvesting, the tnink is cut down into 2 feet long logs. The logs are then segregated for infected and non-infected wood using indeginous tools. The infected logs carrying agarwood deposits are once again sorted out based on colour, odour, density and specific gravity. Sorted infected pieces are dried, white wood is re-moved, polished and graded in compliance with the market standards.

PROCESSING

After tree felling, the leaf and small branches are removed and trunk is cut into two feet length logs. then the logs are split to separate out the infected an non- infected wood with the help of indigenous tools.such separated resinous wood are sorted out based on the oleoresin impregnation, color, density, specific gravity and finally the Oder. these are then dried, cleaned by removing the white wood portions, polished and graded as per market standards. traditionally oil is obtained by the steam distillation of infected wood, chips or power using firewood as fuel. this may takes 5 to 20 days modern methods follow super critical fluid extraction technology using carbon dioxide, as solvent which also gives better quality oil and spent.

FORMATION OF RESINOUS WOOD

Odoriferous wood formation is the reclassification of accumulated oleoresin due to the action of fungus. the infection occurs when stem is mechanically injured or bored by insects. the formation of infected wood can be initiated by the creation of open wound on the trunk of the trees. these injuries are to provide ready infection sites and also push the tree to undergo a stress condition which helps in spreading infection. the fungus enters through the damaged part of plant which serves as initial sites of infections. later on, infections spread on all sides. gradually and ultimately a larger wood volume gets infected. as the more oleoresins are deposited, the color intensity of the infected wood increases and finally it become black due to increased concentration. artificial inoculation technique is provided with mechanical injury. fungus injunction is found to be most effective and reliable method for enhancement of infected agarwood production.