Influence of different host associations on glutamine synthetase activity and ammonium transporter in Santalum album L.

Abstract

The present study was aimed at understanding the role of different hosts in ammonium transporter1;2 expressions and glutamine synthetase(GS) activity and their effects on the growth parameters in the sandal. Sandal plant associated with leguminous host expressed better growth parameters. GS activity of leguminous hosts alone and in host associated sandals was analyzed using GS transferase assay. Highest GS activity was expressed in Mimosa pudica-sandal association compared to other leguminous and non-leguminous host associations. The association of N 2 fixing host with sandal enhanced C and N levels in order to maintain the C/N value. The role of ammonium transporters in N nutrition of sandal-host association was elucidated by cloning AMT1;2 from the leaves, haustoria and roots of host associated sandal and quantifying the relative expression by the 2 ÀDDC T method. SaAMT1;2 was strongly up-regulated in leaves, roots and haustoria of leguminous host associated sandal compared to non-leguminous host associations. The relative increase in SaAMT1;2 expressions and up-regulated GS activity positively affected the growth parameters in sandal when associated with leguminous hosts.

Effects of Drought and Host on the Growth of Santalum album Seedlings in Pot Culture

“…The antioxidant enzyme activities in S. album leaves grown with the host were significantly stronger than those grown without a host. Deepa and Yusuf also confirmed that the host could improve the enzyme activities in S. album leaves [ 6 ].…”

“…However, in the subsequent seedling growth process, its root system must parasitize the roots of appropriate host plants; otherwise, S. album will not grow in a healthy manner and ultimately dies. Planting hosts with S. album seedlings could significantly increase the total lengths, surface areas, and dry weights of S. album seedling roots and the total N, total P, and total K contents in whole plants [ 6 ]. Radomiljac et al [ 7 ] found that the longer S. album seedlings and hosts grow together in a nursery before planting in the field, the larger the height, stem diameter, total plant dry weight, and shoot and root dry weight were after planting in the field.…”

The limiting factors of land suitability for sandalwood (Santalum album) in Sumba Island, Indonesia

“…The presence of a host plant for sandalwood has been proven to be essential in the root association through haustoria formation for supplying water and other available nutrients to improve morphological growth (Deepa and Yusuf 2016). Sandalwood develops strategy by modifying the roots to form haustorium when in physical contact with the roots of the host plants.…”