Chemical solution is an efficient method to induce the formation of 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone derivatives in Aquilaria sinensis

Agarwood is a highly valuable resinous and fragrant heartwood used worldwide as advanced tea, incense for religious ceremonies, traditional Chinese medicine and perfume. Healthy trees do not produce agarwood; wounding and infectious disease initiate its formation. In this study, mechanical wounds, fungal elicitors and salt solution were applied to induce the formation of 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones, which are the principal compounds in agarwood. In this research, chemical solution was the best inducer that could induce Aquilaria sinensis calli to produce the highest amount of chromones E and M at 79.20 and 41.62 mu g g(-1), respectively. Chemical solution was then applied on three-year-old saplings by transfusion to verify its induction effect. Chromones E and M were detected in treated saplings after 15 d and then increased with increasing pruning time; their contents reached 22.05 and 3.42 mu g g(-1), respectively. Our results suggested that chemical solution was the most promising chemical inducer for agarwood production on the industrial scale. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Phytochemical Society of Europe.