Sandalwood Spike Disease
- September 28, 2020
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
Subject: Environment
Context:
India’s sandalwood trees are facing a serious threat with the return of the destructive Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD).
Concept:
- It is caused by phytoplasma (bacterial parasites of plant tissues) which are transmitted by insect vectors.
- Sandal spike phytoplasma is a pleomorphic microorganism and are the smallest organism capable of independent replication (i.e. does not need a host). The pathogen is around 0.4 to 1.0 micrometer in diameter, has a cell membrane, ribosome and DNA.
- Natural population of sandalwood in Marayoor of Kerala and various reserve forests in Karnataka are heavily infected with SSD for which there is no cure as of now.
- Presently, there is no option but to cut down and remove the infected tree to prevent the spread of the disease.
- SSD has been one of the major causes for the decline in sandalwood production in the country for over a century. The disease was first reported in Kodagu in 1899
- The devastating impact in natural habitats resulted in sandalwood being classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 1998.