Myth about sandalwood broken<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, London<\/p>\n
The myth that sandalwood (santalum album) can only be bred
\nnaturally and not scientifically has been proven otherwise. A
\nrecent study shows that valuable sandalwood (santalum album)
\ntrees can be cloned by applying the micropropagation method.<\/p>\n
This achievement in micropropagation was conveyed by young
\nIndonesian scientist Margareth Pratiwi Ismael -- a student of the
\nBandung Institute of Technology's (ITB) faculty of mathematics
\nand natural sciences -- at the London International Youth Science
\nForum, held in London recently.<\/p>\n
The forum was attended by hundreds of scientists and winners
\nof the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Olympics from 57
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Margareth explained that traditional farmers on Timor and
\nSumba islands in East Nusa Tenggara province, were less
\nsuccessful in breeding sandalwood.<\/p>\n
\"Growers usually plant johar (fast-growing shade trees) or
\nchili pepper plants as shelter for sandalwood saplings, but the
\nchances of them living are so small. But, by applying the
\nmicropropagation system, the chances of keeping young sandalwood
\nsaplings alive are bigger,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Micropropagation is the latest method of culturing sandalwood.
\nBuds of the sandalwood tree are cloned as a medium for the
\ndevelopment of new buds containing the nutrition and organic
\ncompounds that control the growth of ovules and later, new
\nseedlings ready for planting.<\/p>\n
Sandalwood contains aromatic compounds and has the highest
\ncontent of Santalol, a principal component of sandalwood oil. The
\npale yellow oil that is obtained from sandalwood is one of the
\nmost expensive materials used in cosmetics, as well as for
\nincense for religious rites and medicine.<\/p>\n
Sandalwood has been the top revenue earner for East Nusa
\nTenggara over the past 15 years. Historically, the aromatic tree
\noriginated from Indiana, Latin America, but is now only found on
\nTimor and Sumba islands.<\/p>\n
According to the East Nusa Tenggara Statistics Office, the
\nnumber of sandalwood trees is estimated to be only some 100,000
\ndue to illegal logging. However, with the latest method of
\nbreeding, new hope is given for the propagation of sandalwood.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/myth-about-sandalwood-broken-1447893297",
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