Parasitic interference of sandal (Santalum album Linn.) on common agricultural crops from the homesteads
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Date
1997
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Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara.
Abstract
Experiments were conducted at College of Forestry. Kerala Agricultural
University. Vellanikkara. Thrissur during 1995-96 to elucidate the various
aspects of parasitisation behaviour of sandal (Santalum album Linn.).
Parasitisation behaviour of sandal on selected agricultural crops occurring in the
homesteads of Kerala. response of selected sandal-host combinations to
manures and fertilizers and uptake and translocation of nutrients and
photosynthates by sandal-host associations were the principal aspects
investigated. Pot culture experiments involving a number of hosts like coconut,
cashew, banana, black pepper, jack, mango, rubber, casuarina, erythrina and
redgram were conducted as part of the study.
The results indicated that, growth parameters of the sandal seedling like
total dry weight and number of haustoria varied significantly depending on the
host associated with sandal. Maximum growth of sandal was observed in
association with the host - Casuarina equisetifolia. No significant decrease was
observed in the growth of any of the hosts consequent to the parasitisation by
sandal. Host is the principal factor governing the growth of sandal and fertilizer
levels tried in this experiment had not caused any significant influence on the
growth of sandal seedlings. In, view of the favourable influences by the host
complex of a good and bad host together ie., casuarina + erythrina, on sandal's
growth, the possible competitive/complementary effects of multiple host
combinations on sandal's growth, need be investigated in greater detail.
Sandal plants can take up elements like calcium, sulphur and
phosphorus directly from soil and a small fraction of these are also obtained
from host. Carbon compounds also are translocated between sandal and
hosts. The same host differed in its ability to supply different elements to
sandal ie., in the supply of phosphorus to sandal casuarina was better while
carbon compounds were optimally supplied by erythrina. So instead of
providing a single host to sandal, a variety of good hosts should be provided
in the field for ensuring a more optimal growth of sandal. Anatomical studies
showed that, sandal roots can establish direct vascular connections with host
roots through haustoria.
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Citation
171279