for thousands of years now, a stumpy tree prized for its heartwood and sandal oil, has been a source of pride for India. Yes, it is none other than the sandalwood tree. However, indiscriminate harvesting and rampant poaching have left the once luxuriant stands in shambles. It is feared that such a loss may have jeopardised the genetic resources of the tree.

Unfortunately, few programmes have aimed to systematically address the conservation of such a precious resource. Lack of information on the extent of genetic variability of populations has been a major handicap in formulating conservation plans for the tree species. Generating genetic diversity maps of economically important species, such as sandal, could lead to the identification of