Sandalwood

Abstract

Sandalwood is the common name for any member of the genus Santalum , which is utilized for its fragrant heartwood. Logs may be used for carving, while the ground wood is used in incense manufacture and essential oil distillation. The pure oil is used in many high‐end perfumes and commands a very high price. Centuries of overexploitation has led to the development of a plantation production system for sandalwood. This has not been without its challenges, particularly problematic silviculture, pest and disease management, and highly variable produce. Conventional breeding approaches have been implemented to improve heartwood and essential oil production; however, there is a significant opportunity for the application of transgenics to sandalwood improvement. Genetic modification of sandalwood so far has been restricted to proof of principle experiments using typical reporter genes; however, these experiments confirm the potential for further improvement. The opportunities for transgenics in sandalwood are discussed here, within the context of the botany and taxonomy of the species, and tree improvement in general.