Selection of Favorable Exogenous Factors on Adventitious Root Formation in Kollankola (Pogostemon heyneanus) cuttings

Abstract

Scarcity of good quality planting materials is one of the main problems in development of medicinal plant industry and kollankola (Pogostemon heyneanus) is one of the vital medicinal plants facing this problem today. Present study was focused on selection of suitable growing media and cutting types as well as checks the effect of hormone on root formation of this imperative species. For the purpose, survival percentage, percentage of rooted cuttings, number of roots and average root length were determined using two separate experiments. Results revealed that the significantly (P<0.05) higher survival percentage, higher rooted cuttings percentage, higher number of roots and higher root length were recorded in sand: compost: coir dust (1:1:1) mixture, while hormone treated semi hardwood cuttings had significantly (P<0.05) higher number of roots, higher root length, higher survival percentage and higher rooted cuttings percentage. These findings suggest that hormone treated semi hardwood stem cuttings planted in sand: compost: coir dust (1:1:1) associated with successful rooting of kollankola. Further, this information will be useful not only in large scale cultivation of kollankola but also ensure the existence of this valued species within the ecosystem.