Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CLONAL PROPAGATION OF HUMBOLDTIA VAHLIANA WT. – AN ENDEMIC TREE OF SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS

P.A. Jose, N. Mohanan and A. Hussain

Abstract

Humboldtia vahliana Wt., (Fabaceae - Caesalpinioideae) an economically important endemic tree of Southern Western Ghats is found susceptible to seed infestation and subsequent poor seedling bank in their natural habitats. This foreseen untimely endangerment of the species. The present study is therefore aimed to establish the clonal genetic stock of the species by inducing rooting in different aged stems by using auxins IAA, IBA and NAA with concentrations of 250, 500, 1000 and 2000ppm. The stem cuttings from 1-2 year old juvenile plants resulted maximum rooting of 90% along with 80% survival of the ramets by the use of IBA at 1000 ppm. Thus, the standardized clonal propagation method in H. vahliana through juvenile stem cuttings reported first time could be taken as an ideal tool for the multiplication and subsequent resource base utilization of the species since the populations are prone to endangerment in its habitats.