Growth performance of sandalwood during nursery stage as affected by different host plants

Santalum album L. is a hemiparasitic tree that requires parasitism of host plants in three stages, where the primary host at the nursery stage is critical. The effects of six legume species (Desmodium triflorum, Mimosa pudica, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Crotalaria retusa, Vigna radiata and Crotalaria juncea) and two non-legume species (Alternanthera sessilis and Tagetes erecta) were investigated to select the most promising pot host for sandalwood in the nursery stage. Each host plant was established in 10 poly bags with four plants/bag, in a completely randomized design. When host plants are one month old, 45-day-old S. album seedling per bag was introduced. After six months the number of leaves, seedling height (cm), dry weight (g), root collar diameter (mm), root length (cm), the number of root interactions were recorded and sturdiness quotient (SQ) and quality index (QI) were calculated. S. album seedlings grown with C. retusa had a significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher number of leaves (26), taller (32.4 cm) and higher root collar diameter (7.5 mm), followed by seedlings grown with M. pudica. The highest SQ (5.18) of S. album seedlings grown with M. pudica implies lower growth and survival in the field. Non-legumes produced taller seedlings than legume hosts except for M. pudica and C. retusa. Sandalwood seedlings with C. retusa had the significantly highest number of (P ≤ 0.05) root interactions (38), tallest shoot (3.3 g), greatest root dry weight (1.1 g), highest QI (0.58) and shortest root length (13 cm). C. retusa was identified as the preferred host for S. album at the nursery stage.