Do different plant host species influence the response of Santalum album under moisture deficit stress?
摘要
With high profitability, growing demand and lucrative market supported by favourable policies, sandalwood cultivation in farmland and agroforestry systems is attracting farmers. Nevertheless, host plant selection carries an important function in terms of supporting enhanced growth and resilience of Santalum album (sandalwood) under moisture stress conditions. This research assessed the effects of various host plants on key morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics of 2.5-year-old field-grown sandalwood under moisture-stress conditions. In addition, a Plant Health Index (PHI) was developed as an appropriate tool for an overall assessment of plant vitality. The maximum height (3.57 m) and leaf area (91.48 cm2) of sandalwood were recorded when grown with Leucaena leucocephala, whereas the highest girth (8.89 cm) was observed in sandalwood associated with Acacia nilotica. Chlorophyll content, Photosystem II (PSII) efficiency, and relative water content (RWC) showed significant variation, with Dalbergia sissoo (9.69 µg mg−1 FW) and Leucaena leucocephala (9.61 µg mg−1 FW) exhibiting higher chlorophyll levels, suggesting superior photosynthetic performance.. Biochemical analysis showed that proline and total free amino acid levels (essential for osmotic adjustment and stress tolerance) were highest in sandalwood grown with Leucaena leucocephala (89.02 µg mg−1 FW; 20.00 mg g−1 FW) and Dalbergia sissoo (84.77 µg mg−1 FW; 13.51 mg g−1 FW). Plant Health Index (PHI) identified Cajanus cajan, Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia nilotica as the most favourable hosts and thus increasing sandalwood’s resilience to moisture deficit. This research forms the basis for refining host-sandalwood interactions and sandalwood cultivation on marginal lands of Deccan plateau, India.
Graphical abstract