Comparison of oil concentration and oil quality from Santalum spicatum and S. album plantations, 8–25 years old, with those from mature S. spicatum natural stands

Summary During February to November 2004, core samples were taken from 41 trees growing in three Santalum spicatum plantations in the Wheatbelt (W–W3: age 8–11 y); one S. spicatum plantation (aged 20–25 y) from Curtin University; one Santalum album plantation (aged 15 y) also from Curtin University; and two mature natural stands of S. spicatum (aged >50 y). Each tree was cored at 150 mm and 700 mm above ground to compare heartwood percentage; oil concentration; and α-santalol, β-santalol and t, t-farnesol contents within the oil. Oils were extracted from the whole core samples (heartwood + sapwood) using ethanol, and the chemical composition was determined using a gas chromatography flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) and a mass-selective detector (GC-MS). Santalum spicatum from the three Wheatbelt plantations had significantly lower proportions of heartwood (28–48%) than those from Curtin University (61–69%) and the natural stands (64–79%), at 150 mm and 700 mm above the ground. Santalum album at age 15 y...