Sandalwood Plantations – Points to Ponder

East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.) is one of the precious woods known for sweet fragrant aroma and commercial value in both national and international markets. Besides, its wide adaptability to varied climate, hosts and edaphic conditions have attracted farmers and corporates for commercial venture. Sandalwood being a hemi-ischolar_main parasite, the successful establishment of sandalwood plantation depends on the understanding of parasitism ecology, especially the relations between host and parasite, their ratio and other silviculture techniques. Hence, the present article aims to understand these issues for commercial upscaling. Sandalwood relies largely on host plants for mineral nutrients and water through haustorial connections which act as a physiological and physical bridge between the parasite and the host. It parasitizes over a vast array of plants from grasses to trees, whereas leguminous associations are superior. Deepischolar_mained and slow-growing perennial hosts help in sustained growth. For better yield of heartwood and oil sandalwood should be grown over 15 years, whereas optimum rotation age would be 25–30 years. Sandalwood can be planted either through direct dibbling of seeds near the hosts in the same pit or adjacent to the hosts. Better establishment occurs when sandalwood is grown with potted host followed by secondary hosts in the field. Association of sandalwood and host would be strong when the distance is around 2.5–3 m with host to parasitic ratio of 2 : 1 or 3 : 1. However, questions on parasitism ecology still remain.