An Application of Six Sigma Methodology in Agarwood Tissue Culture

Chien-Ping Chung^*

Department of Business Innovation and Development, Ming Dao University, Changhua.

DOI: 10.4236/ojop.2013.23011                

Abstract

Agarwood has the mixed scent of ambergris and sandalwood, and cannot be artificially synthesized. Due to massive logging, agarwood is now listed as an endangered plant. Agarwood tissue culture can save provenance for breeding. For different combinations of TDZ (Thidiazuron), BA (6-Benzylaminopurine), and activated carbon of different concentrations, this study used the six sigma, as well as design of experiment (DOE) and response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize agarwood adventitious buds induced incidences and growth numbers. The results showed that, the combination of 4.0 ppm TDZ and 0.5 ppm BA, without activated carbon, had the best effect of adventitious bud induced incidence up to 21.75%, and adventitious bud growth number up to 24.8, improvements of 35.29% and 42.78%, respectively. The results verified that using the six sigma methodology could effectively enhance the induction of agarwood tissue culture adventitious buds, promote the blooming of agarwood in large numbers, and further realize agarwood restoration.

Keywords

Six Sigma; Response Surface Methodology; Agarwood; Tissue Culture

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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