Host influence on survival and growth of two sandalwood species during early development

The sandalwoods ( Santalum spp. ) are root hemiparasites that depend on host plants for growth. Research on sandalwood–host interactions is limited, although it is widely acknowledged that sandalwood species may respond differentially to host plants. This study examined the influence of six different host species on the survival and growth of Santalum album L. and Santalum lanceolatum R. Br. in a pot-based experiment conducted over a 21-month period. It represents the first evaluation of S. lanceolatum –host interactions under controlled conditions and the first direct comparison of host preferences between sandalwood species. Host presence significantly improved survival in both sandalwood species, regardless of host identity, although S. lanceolatum showed an earlier and stronger dependence on host associations for survival and growth. While both sandalwood species shared similar overall growth patterns, they exhibited morphological and physiological differences in response to varying hosts. Growth of S. album and S. lanceolatum responded similarly to most hosts, but Dalbergia latifolia promoted significantly greater growth in S. lanceolatum than in S. album , indicating that sandalwood–host pairings represent unique species-specific interactions. The identity of a suitable host significantly influenced sandalwood growth, highlighting the importance of selecting optimal host–sandalwood combinations to enhance both sandalwood performance and host compatibility. • Santalum lanceolatum shows earlier, stronger host dependence than S. album . • Sandalwood–host interactions are species-specific, differing with particular hosts. • Optimal host–sandalwood combinations are key for successful plantations.