Evaluation of genetic diversity of Sandalwood (Santalum album Linn.) in Aceh, Indonesia, and it's essential oil characteristics

Abstract

Intensive sandalwood utilization can have an impact on the quantity and quality of sandalwood in Aceh, Indonesia. In the long run, this practice can lead to a decrease in genetic resources. This study evaluates the genetic diversity of sandalwood populations in their natural habitat in Aceh. This study also assesses the genetic affinity between Aceh sandalwood and sandalwood from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT); and also its essential oil characteristics. This study provides information for the development of responsible sandalwood utilization policy. We collected leaf samples from five populations across four sites in Aceh and from one site in Maulafa, NTT. In Aceh, samples were collected from Kuta Malaka, Suka Makmur, Padang Tiji, and Muara Tiga. The evaluation of sandalwood genetic diversity was conducted using the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method with Unweighted-Pair Group Method Arithmetic (UPGMA) and Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate System (NTSYS) programs. Sandalwood essential oil was extracted from the stems and roots of sandalwood trees from four different diameter classes using an eight-hour water and steam distillation method. This study examined the specific gravity and the concentration of santalol compounds in sandalwood oil. Santalol concentration were measured using a GC-MS method. Results showed that Suka Makmur population has the highest genetic diversity. Thus it has the potential to be developed for the center of sandalwood in Aceh. Sandalwood populations in Aceh have a genetic affinity with sandalwood populations in NTT with a level of genetic differences only 16%. This shows that sandalwood populations in Aceh likely originated from NTT. Characteristics of the sandalwood essential oil which met the ISO quality standards were derived from the tree diameter ≥ 15 cm with the proportions of heartwood were 48.53% on stems and 52.36% on roots. Therefore, we propose that that selection of sandalwood tree diameter can contribute to sandalwood utilization strategy for maintaining sandalwood quantity and quality.