Standardization of Seed and Vegetative Propagation Techniques in Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde: An Endangered Medicinal Plant

Abstract

Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde is one of the endangered medicinal plants of Western Ghats. An experiment was carried out to standardize seed and vegetative propagation for this very important medicinal plant. Among the different germination inducing treatments, the seed treated with GA3 200 ppm recorded early germination (23.73), highest germination rate (2.95%), seedling vigour (6315.10), seedling height (68.40 cm), fresh weight (16.00 g) and dry weight of seedling (8.47 g). In case of vegetative propagation, hard wood cuttings and air layering was carried out. Cuttings treated with IBA2000 ppm had a significant positive effect on the percentage of rooting (33.41), sprouting (33.70) and number of days taken for sprouting (23.00). In air layering branches treated with IBA 2500 ppm had a significant influence on rooting (88.07%) number of days taken for root initiation (32.00), root diameter (3.53 mm), number of primary roots per layer (6.00), number of secondary roots per layer (40.17) and root length (13.03 cm). Results will be highly useful for large scale for large scale multiplication of the plant.