A recent study demonstrates how fermentation of Aquilaria sinensis heartwood with the endophytic fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea significantly enhances the accumulation of agarotetrol, a quality marker of agarwood, by researchers from Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chiang Mai University, and Yunnan Agricultural University.
Traditionally, agarwood forms in Aquilaria trees over years through natural injury or microbial infection. Its complex scent and medicinal properties make it highly prized, yet sustainable production remains a challenge. While fungi have long been suspected to trigger resin formation, the precise biological mechanisms were poorly understood.
Now, by fermenting non-resinous Aquilaria sinensis heartwood with Botryosphaeria dothidea, researchers achieved a 4.5-fold increase in agarotetrol—a key quality marker—within 60 days (Figure 1). Genomic sequencing of the fungus revealed 69 biosynthetic gene clusters (Figure 2), more than half of which are “cryptic” and unrelated to known pathways, highlighting its unexplored metabolic potential to interact with the host plant. Future studies on its cryptic gene clusters could reveal key molecular interactions, advancing targeted induction methods.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U23A20515) and Special Project for the Special Project for the Construction of Science and Technology Innovation Centers Facing South Asia and Southeast Asia - Yunnan International Joint Innovation Platform (202503AP140001).
Paper link 1: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2025.104076
Paper link 2: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-025-00866-z
Figure 1. Botryosphaeria dothidea fermentation enhances agarotetrol yield by 4.5-fold in 60 days.
Fig. 2. Genome analysis reveals 69 BGCs, including 37 cryptic clusters.