This roadmap integrates sexual propagation, elite selection, clonal propagation, molecular verification, and resin yield optimization.
10-Year Genetic Improvement Roadmap for Aquilaria malaccensis
Phase 1 – Foundation & Germplasm Collection (Year 1–2)
Objectives:
- Establish a broad genetic base for breeding
- Collect wild and plantation seed sources
- Begin nursery propagation
Key Activities:
- Germplasm Survey
- Wild stands, naturalized populations, and plantation sources
- Record GPS, growth traits, and environmental parameters
- Seed Collection & Nursery Propagation
- Sow recalcitrant seeds immediately after harvest
- Maintain seedling database
- Baseline Molecular Screening
- DNA barcoding (ITS + matK) to confirm species
- Tag mother tree and batch IDs
Deliverables:
- Germplasm bank of 1,000–2,000 seedlings
- Digital database with species verification and provenance
Phase 2 – Early Growth Evaluation & Field Trials (Year 2–4)
Objectives:
- Evaluate growth, health, and early resin potential
- Identify superior seedlings for elite tree selection
Key Activities:
- Randomized Field Trials
- Plant seedlings in multiple trial plots
- Track height, diameter, canopy, and health
- Pest/Disease Monitoring
- Early detection of vulnerability
- Preliminary Resin Induction Trials
- Small-scale inoculations on 2–3-year-old trees
- Genetic Recording
- DNA barcoding to confirm continuity
- Record growth-resin correlation
Deliverables:
- Preliminary ranking of top 20–30% performers
- Data on environmental adaptability
Phase 3 – Elite Mother Tree Selection (Year 4–6)
Objectives:
- Select elite mother trees for clonal propagation
- Establish a seed orchard for future breeding
Key Activities:
- Selection Criteria
- Growth rate, disease resistance, resin quality
- Flowering and seed set performance
- Molecular Verification
- DNA barcoding for species purity
- Optional genotyping for diversity assessment
- Seed Orchard Establishment
- Plant selected elite trees in controlled environment
- Documentation
- Assign batch IDs and QR-linked genetic records
Deliverables:
- 100–200 elite mother trees
- Seed orchard ready for controlled breeding
Phase 4 – Clonal Propagation & Plantation Deployment (Year 5–8)
Objectives:
- Produce tissue culture clones from elite mother trees
- Deploy high-quality, uniform plantations
Key Activities:
- Tissue Culture Production
- Organogenesis / somatic embryogenesis
- Acclimatize plantlets in nursery
- Molecular Certification
- Integrate Agaris™ Elite DNA verification
- Assign batch ID and digital certification
- Plantation Establishment
- Commercial planting blocks
- Maintain uniform spacing, irrigation, and nutrition
Deliverables:
- 5–10 hectares (per batch) of high-value plantation
- Digital molecular records linked to investor documentation
Phase 5 – Resin Induction & Quality Assessment (Year 6–9)
Objectives:
- Optimize agarwood formation
- Link genotype to resin yield
Key Activities:
- Controlled Resin Induction
- Fusarium oxysporum + MnO₂ dual-action inoculation
- Monitor tree response
- Chemical Analysis
- Measure agarwood quality (sesquiterpenes, chromones)
- Performance Database
- Record growth-resin correlation per elite tree
- Re-Selection
- Identify top-performing clones for future production cycles
Deliverables:
- Performance metrics for 75–90% of elite plantation
- High-value agarwood ready for harvest in 8–10 years
Phase 6 – Advanced Breeding & Genetic Improvement (Year 8–10)
Objectives:
- Sustain continuous genetic improvement
- Prepare next generation of elite mother trees
Key Activities:
- Controlled Cross-Pollination
- Elite mother trees in seed orchard
- Produce hybrid seeds with superior traits
- Seedling Screening
- DNA barcoding + trait evaluation
- Early selection for resin yield potential
- Integration with Tissue Culture
- Clone top next-generation performers
- Investor & Brand Integration
- QR-linked Agaris™ Elite certificates
- Reinforce molecular branding for plantation ROI
Deliverables:
- Next-generation elite mother tree pool
- Tissue culture clones ready for large-scale deployment
- Continuous improvement loop for plantation productivity
Key Performance Metrics Across 10 Years
| Metric | Target |
|---|---|
| Genetic diversity index | Maintain ≥0.7 |
| Elite tree selection | Top 10–15% of seedlings |
| Resin induction success | ≥60–75% of plantation |
| Tissue culture clone deployment | ≥80% of commercial blocks |
| Investor-ready molecular certification | 100% of Agaris™ Elite plantlets |
Strategic Advantages
- Predictable resin yield and quality
- Uniform plantations for commercial scaling
- Molecularly verified branding for investors
- Sustainable genetic improvement cycle
- Integration of sexual and clonal propagation