Standardization of Protocols for Plant Growth Media and Seasons for Cuttings of Kusum [Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken

Abstract

Growing cuttings of Kusum (Schleichera oleosa), is a major hurdle for the Lac growers in India. This species is primarily known as the lac host tree for lac production besides other multiple uses. Due to high population pressure and market demand, the natural population and genetic diversity of this species is declining day-by-day. Maintaining the selected best germplasm through clonal propagation is the need of the hour. Mass multiplication through cuttings could only be the right choice of the grower if found successful. But, no successful cuttings of Kusum have been reported till date. Therefore, an experiment was carried out during 2018-21 following Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to standardize the plant growth media and the seasons for growing cuttings at the very initial stages of the experiment. The result revealed that the root, shoot and leaf growths in cuttings of Kusum are significantly influenced by the different plant growth media. The maximum rooting initiation (43.33±0.96%) was observed in the cuttings grown in media of Coco peat : FYM : Vermicompost (2:2:1). The maximum rooting (44.50±1.85 %) in the cuttings prepared from seedlings of less than 5 years old and 33.75 ± 1.49 % rooting in the cuttings prepared from 10-20 years old plantation, were recorded in the month of May. Based on the present investigation, it is concluded that the plant growing media having the composition of Coco peat : FYM : Vermicompost (2:2:1) is more appropriate and recommended for growing cuttings of Kusum. Moreover, the month of May is highly recommended for growing cuttings of Kusum for maximum success. Regarding selection of mother plant, it is advised to select the Kusum plant from the plantation aged less than five years old.