Trichoderma harzianum occupies a very different role from most agarwood-associated fungi: it is not a resin inducer, but a biological regulator and protector used to manage fungal balance, tree health, and induction stability in professional agarwood systems.
Agarwood-specific profile, aligned with how it should be positioned in BarIno™ ecosystem-based induction programs.
1. Basic Profile
- Kingdom: Fungi
- Phylum: Ascomycota
- Growth form: Fast-growing beneficial filamentous fungus
- Pigmentation: Green spores
- Natural habitat: Soil, rhizosphere, decaying wood
2. Role in Agarwood Systems (Critical Distinction)
⚠️ Trichoderma harzianum does NOT induce agarwood resin.
Instead, it functions as a biological control and stabilizer that:
- Suppresses overly aggressive fungi
- Competes for space and nutrients
- Produces antifungal metabolites
- Reduces uncontrolled tissue necrosis
- Helps maintain tree vitality during induction
Think of it as a “governor”, not a trigger.
3. Why Trichoderma Is Used in Agarwood Programs
Strategic Benefits
- Prevents fungal overrun (e.g. Lasiodiplodia, Aspergillus)
- Reduces tree mortality
- Improves uniform resin development indirectly
- Supports long-term, multi-cycle induction
- Helps trees recover between induction rounds
It is especially useful in:
- Large plantations
- Multi-year induction programs
- High-value trees where loss is unacceptable
4. Correct Use Strategy (Industry Best Practice)
Trichoderma harzianum should be used:
- Before induction (preventive phase), or
- After induction (recovery & stabilization phase)
🚫 It should not be injected together with primary resin-inducing fungi, as it may suppress them.
This creates a 3-phase logic:
Prepare → Induce → Stabilize
5. Functional Role in BarIno™ Systems (Suggested)
| Function | Role |
|---|---|
| Biocontrol agent | Regulates fungal activity |
| Stress level | Protective, not inductive |
| Application zone | Rhizosphere, wound margins, recovery phase |
| Products | AgarStart™, MycoResin Harmonia™ (support use) |
Tagline concept:
“Protecting the tree while resin forms.”
6. Culturing & Handling (High-Level, Safe)
- Grows aggressively on common substrates
- Outcompetes many pathogenic fungi
- Requires separate handling from induction fungi
- Applied under controlled plantation management
(Exact methods should remain proprietary.)
7. Safety & Compliance
- Widely used in agriculture as a biological control agent
- Generally regarded as low-risk
- Not edible
- Should be deployed according to agricultural biocontrol guidelines
8. Farmer-Simplified Explanation
“This is a good fungus. It protects the tree and controls bad fungi. It helps the tree survive induction and recover after resin formation.”
9. How It Fits in the Consortium Logic (Simple View)
| Group | Role |
|---|---|
| Resin inducers | Trigger resin (e.g. Fusarium, Lasiodiplodia) |
| Support fungi | Spread & balance (e.g. Penicillium, Alternaria) |
| Trichoderma harzianum | Control & protection |
10. Positioning Summary (One Line)
Trichoderma harzianum is a biological safeguard, ensuring agarwood induction remains controlled, sustainable, and repeatable—especially in high-value plantations.