Vegetative propagation in Trema Orientalis Blume through stem cuttings, popular fodder tree foliage in Eastern Himalaya, India

Abstract

Trema orientalis Blume provides nutritious and palatable fodder to the Mithun (Bos frontalis) which is an indigenous semi domesticated animal in humid tropics of Eastern Himalaya of India. This fodder tree has poor regeneration through seeds. Hence an experiment was conducted to evaluate the optimum conditions for successful vegetative propagation of this multipurpose tree species through stem cuttings. The study examined the type of cuttings (hardwood, semi hardwood and softwood), effect of Indole – 3 butyric acid (IBA) treatment (0, 200, 400, 600 mg/lt), the effect of season and wounding base of the cuttings. The rooting ability of the cutting was significantly influenced by all these factors. Semi hardwood cuttings during spring season performed better than others. On an average, IBA treatment (600 ppm), high humidity (> 90%), spring season and wounding increased the rooting capacity of the cutting significantly (P=0.05). The wound at the base of soft wood cutting had resulted in enhanced sprouting and rooting capacity. Further, rooting was significantly improved in wounded hardwood cuttings compared to non wounded ones.