TY - JOUR AU - Karthikeyan A, AU - Krishnamoorthi S, AU - Mahalingam L, AU - Jiniviju PC, AU - Kanchanadevi K, AU - Shyama P Nair, PY - 2023/04/19 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - INFLUENCE OF CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLIA WITH FRANKIA AS HOST PLANT ON GROWTH AND NUTRIENT IMPROVEMENT OF SANTALUM ALBUM JF - Journal of Tropical Forest Science (JTFS) JA - JTFS VL - 35 IS - 2 SE - Articles DO - UR - https://jtfs.frim.gov.my/jtfs/article/view/2321 SP - 203-210 AB - <p><em>Santalum album</em> is a commercially important tree for its aromatic heart wood and oil. Establishing <em>S. album</em> seedlings in field is difficult due to its semi parasitic nature. It requires a host to thrive and survive. In this study the <em>C. equisetifolia</em> was selected as host along with nitrogen fixing actinobacteria Frankia for <em>S. album</em> in nursery to understand their relationship. Both <em>S. album</em> and <em>C. equisetifolia</em> seedlings were propagated in nursery and the cultured <em>Frankia</em> in P agar medium was inoculated in <em>C. equisetifolia</em> seedlings. The S. album seedlings were grown in soil along with <em>C. equisetifolia</em> (+/- <em>Frankia</em>). After 120 days, the seedling of <em>S. album</em> was harvested and found improvement in growth and nutrient uptake. <em>S. album</em> seedlings with the host of <em>C. equisetifolia</em> along with<em> Frankia</em> showed significantly improved root length (38.3 cm seedling<sup>-1</sup>), shoot length (45.2 cm seedling<sup>-1</sup>), root collar diameter (3.2 cm seedling<sup>-1</sup>), 14.2 haustorial attachment seedling<sup>-1</sup>, shoot biomass (1.96 g seedling<sup>-1</sup>), root biomass (0.72 g seedling<sup>-1</sup>) and showed lowest root/shoot ratio (0.36). The nutrient contents particularly N was significantly found in <em>S. album</em> seedlings associated with <em>C. equisetifolia</em> + <em>Frankia</em>. The result showed that essential nutrient nitrogen transfer was mediated through the nitrogen fixing bacteria to <em>C. equisetifolia</em> and absorbed by <em>S. album</em>. In conclusion, the combination of <em>C. equisetifolia</em> + <em>Frankia</em> provided suitable host for the growth and biomass improvement in <em>S. album</em> seedlings.</p> ER -