Undergrad Thesis – Fungal Consortium

Undergraduate Thesis Proposal

Title

Development and Evaluation of a Fungal Consortium Blended with Fusarium oxysporum for Enhanced Agarwood (Oud) Resin Induction in Aquilaria spp.

Proponent

[Student Name]
Bachelor of Science in Biology / Forestry / Agriculture / Biotechnology
University: [Name of University]
Adviser: [Name, Title]

1. Introduction and Background of the Study

Agarwood (oud) is a highly valuable resinous wood produced by trees of the genus Aquilaria as a defense response to biotic stress, particularly fungal infection. Among the microorganisms associated with agarwood formation, Fusarium oxysporum has been widely documented as a primary resin-inducing fungus, capable of triggering host defense pathways leading to sesquiterpene and chromone accumulation.

However, natural agarwood formation rarely involves a single microorganism. Instead, it occurs through complex microbial consortia, where multiple fungal species interact synergistically or sequentially to enhance resin biosynthesis. Current artificial inoculation practices often rely on monoculture fungal strains, which may limit resin yield, quality, and consistency.

Recent studies suggest that fungal consortia, combining Fusarium oxysporum with complementary endophytic or pathogenic fungi, may improve resin induction by:

Activating multiple defense signaling pathways
Increasing oxidative stress responses
Enhancing secondary metabolite diversity
Mimicking natural infection ecology

This study proposes the development and evaluation of a fungal consortium blended with Fusarium oxysporum to determine its effectiveness in enhancing agarwood resin formation compared to F. oxysporum alone.

2. Statement of the Problem

Despite advances in artificial agarwood induction, challenges remain:

Low or inconsistent resin yield
Limited chemical complexity of induced agarwood
Overreliance on single-strain inoculants
Incomplete understanding of fungal–fungal and fungal–host interactions

There is a need to scientifically evaluate whether strategically selected fungal blends can improve agarwood induction outcomes.

3. Objectives of the Study

General Objective

To develop and evaluate a fungal consortium blended with Fusarium oxysporum for enhanced agarwood resin induction in Aquilaria spp.

Specific Objectives

To isolate and culture candidate fungal strains compatible with F. oxysporum.
To formulate fungal consortia using F. oxysporum and selected complementary fungi.
To compare resin induction effectiveness between:
- F. oxysporum alone
- Fungal consortium treatments
- Control (no inoculation)
To assess resin formation based on visual, anatomical, and chemical indicators.
To evaluate potential synergistic or antagonistic interactions among fungal strains.

4. Significance of the Study

This study will benefit:

Agarwood farmers by improving induction efficiency and resin quality
Researchers by contributing to microbial ecology and plant–fungus interaction knowledge
Agroforestry and biotechnology sectors by supporting sustainable agarwood production
Regulatory and sustainability frameworks by reducing pressure on wild agarwood populations

5. Scope and Limitations

Scope

Focus on Aquilaria spp. seedlings or young trees
Use of laboratory-cultured fungal strains
Short- to medium-term resin induction assessment (3–6 months)

Limitations

Chemical analysis may be limited to qualitative or semi-quantitative methods
Environmental factors may influence resin formation
Long-term resin maturation not covered

6. Review of Related Literature (Summary)

Role of Fusarium oxysporum in agarwood resin induction
Endophytic fungi associated with natural agarwood
Plant defense responses to fungal infection
Microbial consortium approaches in agriculture and forestry

(A full literature review will be developed in the thesis manuscript.)

7. Methodology

7.1 Research Design

Experimental, completely randomized design (CRD).

7.2 Fungal Strain Selection (Proposed Candidates)

In addition to Fusarium oxysporum, candidate fungi may include:

Aspergillus niger
Penicillium citrinum
Lasiodiplodia theobromae
Trichoderma harzianum (low-virulence strains)
Cladosporium spp.

Selection will be based on:

Compatibility with F. oxysporum
Documented association with agarwood or woody hosts
Non-lethal pathogenicity

7.3 Preparation of Fungal Inoculants

Pure culture maintenance on PDA
Spore suspension standardization (CFU/mL)
Consortium blending ratios (e.g., 1:1, 2:1, 1:2)

7.4 Inoculation Procedure

Drill-hole or injection method
Controlled inoculation depth and volume
Proper wound sealing

7.5 Data Collection

Visual scoring of resin formation
Histological analysis (optional)
Color and aroma indicators
Tree health monitoring

7.6 Data Analysis

Descriptive statistics
ANOVA for treatment comparison
Qualitative resin grading

8. Ethical and Biosafety Considerations

Use of non-toxigenic and controlled fungal strains
Proper disposal of fungal cultures
Compliance with institutional biosafety guidelines
No release of fungi into uncontrolled environments

9. Expected Results

It is expected that:

Fungal consortia will induce stronger and more uniform resin formation
Certain fungal combinations will demonstrate synergistic effects
Tree mortality will remain low with properly selected strains

10. Timeline

Activity	Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6
Literature Review	✓
Fungal Isolation	✓	✓
Inoculation		✓
Monitoring			✓	✓	✓
Data Analysis					✓
Writing						✓

11. References (Sample)

(To be expanded)

Blanchette et al., Agarwood formation and fungal interactions
Chen et al., Microbial induction of secondary metabolites in Aquilaria
Mohamed et al., Artificial agarwood induction methods