Effect of Different Rooting Media on Root Proliferation of Taxus Baccata L. Stem Cuttings

Saumitro Das^1*, L. K. Jha²

¹Divisional Forest Office, Karimganj Forest Division (Territorial), Karimganj, Assam, India.

²Department of Environmental Studies, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.

Corresponding author Email: suman.envt@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.6.1.12

Abstract:

Taxus baccata L., an endangered medicinal tree is highly valued for anti-cancer drug ‘Paclitaxel’ which is extracted from its leaves and barks. Reckless exploitation and habitat destruction have greatly reduced its natural population. Its regeneration through seed is also poor, so focus has been paid on vegetative propagation by stem cuttings to augment its natural regeneration. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different rooting media on rooting behavior of Taxus baccata cuttings under poly house conditions.  Effect of ten rooting media was studied on rooting of juvenile and mature stem cuttings of Taxus baccata.   Six substrates i.e. field soil, forest soil, river sand, FYM, peat and vermi-compost were used for preparation of rooting media. The experiments were laid out in a randomized completely block design. The different rooting parameters were evaluated after six months of planting. The results revealed that the highest value of per cent survived, per cent callused, per cent rooted, mean number of root and mean root length  was obtained in both juvenile and mature cuttings planted in Forest soil+ Peat+ FYM (1:1:1) compared to the other rooting media. Not a single cutting survived which was planted in river sand. Mature cuttings planted in Forest soil + River sand + VC (1:1:1) also failed to survive. The media containing peat as substrate significantly improved the rooting of cuttings but due to optimum physico-chemical properties,   Forest soil+ Peat+ FYM (1:1:1) proved ideal rooting media for stem propagation of Taxus baccata.

Keywords:

Paclitaxel; Rooting Media; Stem Cuttings; Taxus Baccata; Vegetative Propagation

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