Scented innovations by advanced technologies in Santalum album Linn.f plantation: A review

Sandalwood (Santalum album L.), popularly known as the “green gold of India,” is one of the most valued tree species owing to its fragrant heartwood and essential oil with diverse cultural, medicinal, and economic applications. However, its cultivation has been constrained by slow growth, poor germination, host dependency, susceptibility to spike disease, illegal felling, and regulatory challenges. Recent advances in biotechnology, diagnostic tools, and digital monitoring systems have introduced innovative solutions to address these constraints. This review synthesizes developments in tissue culture and clonal propagation for quality planting material, electric resistance tomography for non-destructive heartwood assessment, gas elicitor treatments for accelerated heartwood formation, molecular diagnostics for early detection of Sandalwood Spike Disease, and biopriming for enhanced germination and seedling vigor. Additionally, IoT-enabled protection technologies such as Bluetooth sensors and microchip-based systems have emerged as effective measures against theft. The merits of these innovations lie in their ability to improve productivity, sustainability, and profitability, while challenges include high costs, technical complexity, and limited accessibility for small-scale farmers. By integrating traditional silvicultural knowledge with modern scientific advancements, these technologies offer a roadmap for sustainable sandalwood production, conservation of genetic resources, and enhanced economic returns. The study underscores the transformative role of innovation in revitalizing sandalwood cultivation and ensuring its long-term ecological and commercial viability.