Abstract:
Vitex negundo and Flueggea leucopyrus are invaluable medicinal plants used in herbal
preparations. These species find difficulties in propagation through seeds due to many reasons.
Therefore, it is important to develop appropriate vegetative propagation techniques for the
successful rooting of these species. The present study was carried out to explore the effect of
different rooting media, vegetative cutting types and hormone applications on the rooting of these
species. Twelve different treatment combinations were arranged in Three Factor Factorial
Completely Randomized Design with five replications for each species separately. Data were
analyzed using SPSS (Version 25) and Minitab (Version 17). Means were separated using Duncan’s
multiple range test at 5% level of probability. Results showed that in V. negundo, the highest
number of leaves (17.3) and buds (3.2) were recorded in hardwoods treated with IBA planted in
sand: coir dust 1:1. F. leucopyrus had shown the highest number of leaves (6.2), the highest
number of roots (3.8) and the highest root length (23.7cm) in softwoods treated with IBA
hormone in sand: coir dust 1:1. In conclusion, hardwoods treated with IBA planted in sand: coir
dust 1:1 could be recommended for successful rooting of V. negundo. Softwoods treated with IBA
hormone in sand: coir dust 1:1 appeared as the most promising treatment combination for root
formation as well as root growth and development in F. leucopyrus. These findings will be useful
in the successful mass propagation of Vitex negundo and Flueggea leucopyrus.
