A propagation method in Jasminum sambac through leaf petiole cutting in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

摘要

Jasmine is one of the most important ornamental flowering plants widely cultivated and esteemed for its attractive fragrant flowers. Jasmine flowers are used for making garland, adorning hair by women, religious and ceremonial functions. There is a steady demand in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the fresh flowers of jasmine round the year. Due to the existing demand in the Islands, the commercial cultivation of jasmine is started recently. However, non -availability of year round quality planting material of the right variety is hampering its cultivation in this Islands .The conventional method of propagation of jasmine by rooted stem cuttings is a time consuming and expensive practice associated with poor rooting ability in the field. Moreover large number of mother plants is required for production of planting material through stem cuttings which is of scarcity in the Island. Keeping in view the increasing demand of jasmine planting materials, alternative methods for propagation were tried. Multiplication of jasmine using leaf culture technique is an innovative method reported by a farmer in Tamil Nadu, in which he used leaf as the propagule (Rajarathnam 2013). This method was used as a base to standardize the propagation of jasmine using minimum exploitation of the mother plants. In this experiment, with full leaf is used as the propagule and different media were tried for standardization of suitable method for maximum success. The growing media standardization is very important for propagation as it influences the growth and quality of the seedlings (Wilson et ah,2001). The growth medium directly affects seedling growth, development and maintenance of the extensively functional rooting system (Agbo and Omaliko 2006). A good growth medium provides sufficient anchorage or support to the plant, serves as a reservoirfor nutrients and water, allows oxygen diffusion to the roots and permits gaseous exchange between roots and the atmosphere outside root substrate (Abad et al, 2002). The experiment thus initiated was aimed to develop a cost effective method of propagation for production of true to type plants within short period to meet the existing growing demand in the island.