Aspects of Early Growth and Host Relationships in the Hemi-Parasitic Santalum album: Alternanthera Taxa as Primary Hosts and Growth in Response to Foliar Feeding

T M Luong, T Lion, J E D Fox, A D Schatral

Abstract


Species of Alternanthera (Family Amaranthaceae) are efficient primary hosts for the obligate root hemi-parasiteSantalum album (Family Santalaceae). The first experiment presented in this paper examines whether four closelyrelated Alternanthera taxa differ in their performance as host. S. album seedlings were grown in pots withAlternanthera dentata cv ‘Ruby’, Alternanthera dentata cv ‘Tricolor’, Alternanthera amoena cv ‘Aurea’, and Alternantheraangustifolia respectively. Seedlings were between 5 and 11 weeks old at the beginning of the experiment. Haustorialconnections had been formed with the roots of A. dentata cv “Tricolor” and Alternanthera amoena cv “Aurea” after10 weeks. The variety A. dentata cv “Ruby” formed haustorial connections after 4 weeks. Sandal seedlings did notform any haustorial connections with A. angustifolia during the trial period. Shoot and root growth of S. albumseedlings were similar in the presence of the four host taxa and did not change significantly throughout theexperimental time period, probably due to the low number of haustorial connections between host and parasite. Ofthe four taxa tested, A. angustifolium showed the least potential as primary host because of poor root growth, earlymortality and a complete lack of haustorial connections between host and parasite.The second experiment (1) examined whether young sandalwood seedlings can utilise essential minerals whenadministered directly to their own leaves, and (2) compared the growth response to foliar feeding with the growthobserved in the presence of A. dentata var. “Ruby”, which is likely due to a transfer of nutrients from host to parasite.The absorption of nutrients was determined as an increase in the growth of sandal seedlings after 20 weeks. The dataindicate that S. album seedlings are able to utilise foliar nutrients. However, the presence of A. dentata var. “Ruby”leads to a larger increase in growth than the application of foliar nutrients

Keywords


Santalum album, Alternanthera dentata cv ‘Ruby’, A. dentata cv ‘Tricolor’, A. amoena cv ‘Aurea’, A. angustifolia, Host, Parasite, Pot (Primary) Host, Haustoria, Foliar Nutrients

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