Bio-deterioration in Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album Linn.): A prime factor for loss of heartwood

Abstract

A study was carried out to quantify the loss of heartwood in different classes of sandalwood collections, stored in the sandalwood depot of Marayoor sandal reserve in Kerala. There were 8 different classes of sandalwood, collected from stem portion of the plant, and 3 different classes of sandalwood from root portion of the sandalwood in the depot. Study revealed the presence of cavities due to bio-deterioration which plays a key role in the classification of wood. The sandalwood classes 1, 2, 3 and 4 were free from any wood loss as they were free from any type of bio-deterioration. In the stem classes 5,6,10 and 14 the loss of volume of sandalwood measures 1.14, 5.38, 45.93 and 12.22%, respectively, and in the root classes 7, 8 and 9 the loss of volume of sandal wood measures 14.47, 65.93 and 10.80%, respectively. The computed mean values revealed a loss of 8.19% wood. Thus, there is a considerable loss of valuable sandalwood due to bio-deterioration. Since, it is the second most costly wood in the world as well as in the context of depleting sandalwood production in India due care need to be taken to prevent the sandalwood loss by way of managing bio-deteriorating agents in living trees as well as in storage.