(환경) 마늘 농축액 주사 나무의 병 치료 가능

출처: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29522647

7 October 2014 Last updated at 16:39

Garlic injection could tackle tree diseases 마늘 농축액 주사 나무의 병 치료 가능

By Claire MarshallBBC environment correspondent

A closer look at how a tree injection works 어떻게 나무에 주사를 놓는지 자세히 보여주는 장면 

Injecting trees with a concentrated form of garlic might help save trees in the UK from deadly diseases. 마늘 농축액으로 나무에 주사를 놓아주면 심각한 병에 걸려 죽어가던 영국의 나무들을 살릴 수 있다. 

Operating under an experimental government licence, a prototype piece of technology to administer the solution is being trialled on a woodland estate in Northamptonshire. 정부에서 발급 받은 임시면허로, 해결책을 모색하기 위해 테크놀로지의 원형적 부분을 노담톤셔의 산림지대에서 실험하고 있다.

Widespread use of the injection process is impractical and expensive. 보통 널리 이용되는 주사법은 비실용적이고 값도 비싸다. 

But it could potentially help save trees of historic or sentimental value. 그러나 이 방법은 역사적 가치나 감상적 가치를 지닌 나무들을 보존하는데는 도움이 될 것이다.

Garlic is one of nature's most powerful antibacterial and antifungal agents. 마늘은 가장 강력한 자연산 항균제들 중 하나이다. 

It contains a compound called allicin, which scientists are interested in harnessing. 마늘에는 알리신(밝은 하늘 註: 마늘에서 추출한 항균성 물질)이라 요소가 있어, 과학자들은 이 물질을 이용하는데 관심을 갖고 있다.

The experimental injection device is made up of a pressurised chamber and eight "octopus" tubes. 실험용 주사기는 壓室(압실)과 8개의 "문어"모양 튜브로 구성되어 있다.

The pressure punches the solution through the tubes and through special injection units in to the tree's sap system. The needles are positioned in a way to get allicin evenly around the tree. 압력을 가하면 용액이 튜브와 특별한 주사기를 통해 나무의 수액시스템 속으로 들어간다.

The moment the active agent starts to encounter the disease, it destroys it. The poison is organic and isn't rejected by the tree. 그 순간 항균물질은 질병과 반응하기 시작하여 병원체를 죽인다. 그 독은 유기성(=생물에서 나온 물질)을 띄기 때문에 나무가 거부반응을 나타내지 않는다. 

The treatment could potentially help save trees of historic or sentimental value

It is pulled up the trunk out along the branches and in to the leaves by the process of transpiration - the flow of water through a plant.

Tree consultant Jonathan Cocking is involved with the development and deployment of the treatment.

"Over the last four years we have treated 60 trees suffering badly with bleeding canker of horse chestnut. All of the trees were cured.

This result has been broadly backed up by 350 trees we have treated all over the country where we have had a 95% success rate."

Oak trees with acute oak decline - which eventually kills the tree - have improved after being treated. In laboratory conditions allicin kills the pathogen chalara which is responsible for ash dieback.

The solution is made by a company in Wales. "Organic cloves of garlic are crushed," said Mr Cocking, "and a patented method is used to amplify the volume of allicin and improve the quality of it so it is stable for up to one year. Allicin in the natural world only lasts for about 5-10 minutes.

If you go back to the tree the day after, and crush a leaf that is in the extremity of the crown, you can often smell the garlic."

The goal is to get a commercial licence by the beginning of next year.

According to Prof Stephen Woodward, a tree expert at Aberdeen University: "The antibacterial properties of allicin are well-known in the laboratory. I have not heard of it being used in trees before, but yes this is interesting. It could work."

However Mr Woodward cautioned about such methods of "biological control". "Despite being plant-based that doesn't mean it can't harm an ecosystem. For example cyanide is plant-based."

Many conservationists also caution against such drastic intervention. Dr Anne Edwards from the John Innes Centre was one of the first to identify ash dieback in a coppice wood in Norfolk.

She said that this treatment would not be effective for ash dieback: "In a woodland setting we really have to let nature take its course. It's very depressing," she explained.

The Woodland Trust also favours a different approach. The organization is investing £1.5m in a seed bank. The idea is to grow trees that are fully traceable and therefore free from foreign disease.

Austin Brady, director of conservation and external affairs, said: "Our native woodland needs to build its resilience to disease and pests. By starting from the beginning of the supply chain we can ensure that millions of trees will have the best possible chance of survival in the long term."

In recognition of the threat posed by current and future tree and plant biosecurity, Defra recently appointed a Chief Plant Health Officer, and has earmarked £4 million for research in to treatments.