Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD)

Santalum album, commonly known as Indian Sandalwood, is a dry deciduous forest species native to China, India, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines.
Because it is strong and durable, S. album is mostly harvested for its timber. Close-grained sandalwood heartwood is used for fine furniture and carving.
The heartwood and roots also contain ‘sandal oil’ which is valued for use in perfumes, incense, cosmetics, soaps, and medicines. The bark contains tannin, which is used for dye.
Because of its economic value, it is prone to illicit felling and overexploitation. Hence, IUCN has accorded it vulnerable status.

The sandalwood trees of Karnataka and Kerala are destructively hit by the disease sandalwood spike disease (SSD).
It is caused by a phytoplasma (bacterial parasites of plant tissues), which are transmitted by insect vectors. (The spread of the disease has been explained in the following image)

SSD is very less studied and has no cure. The infected tree has to be cut to reduce the spread of the disease. Yearly 1-5% of the sandalwood is lost due to this disease. But due to the increase in the spread of the disease, it is feared that it may spread to sandalwood cultivations.
This disease has the potential to wipe out the whole population of sandalwood. Hence, scientists of Bengaluru-based Institute of Wood Science & Technology (IWST) will join hands with the Pune-based National Centre for Cell Sciences for a three-year study to combat the disease, initiated by the Union Ministry of Ayush with a financial allocation of ₹50 lakh.

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