Modern Nursery Practices in the Production of Quality Seedlings of Indian Sandalwood ( Santalum album L.)— Stage of Host Requirement and Screening of Primary Host Species
2006; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 22; Issue: 3-4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1300/j091v22n03_03
ISSN1540-756X
AutoresD. Annapurna, T. S. Rathore, Geeta Joshi,
Tópico(s)Seedling growth and survival studies
ResumoAbstract Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) considered threatened in its habitat is a hemi-root parasite tree, highly valued for its heartwood and oil. It requires a primary host at the nursery stage and secondary host in field. Over exploitation and complex silvicultural systems have posed problems for its survival. The study on the stage of primary host requirement revealed that providing Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp, as a host immediately after transplanting sandalwood seedlings (2 leaf stage) in containers to be the optimal stage for boosting the growth of seedlings. Three different trials were performed to investigate the effect and select the best primary host out of six leguminous and five non-leguminous host species. Sandalwood seedlings in general exhibited better growth when grown in the same container with a leguminous host. Mimosa pudica L. proved the best host, significantly enhancing growth and nutrient status (NPK) of S. album seedlings. Among non-leguminous host species, the best growth of sandalwood seedlings was exhibited with a host of Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. ex. Dc. Host species were found to influence haustorial number, connection, size and chlorophyll contents. Maximum number of haustoria and effective haustorial connections were observed with A. sessilis and minimum with Cassia fistula L. Haustorial size was larger with C. cajan and M. pudica.
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