MSc

The studies on propagation techniques in Phyllanthus emblica Linn. were carried out in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the year 1984 to 1985.
The studies were carried out on seed as well as vegetative propagation. The present series of studies are the first of its kind done in Kerala on the above lines and have yielded valuable results.
The stones did not germinate with any growth regulator treatment tried. The hard ‘shell’ covering the seeds acted as a great barrier for seed germination. The seeds are to be extracted and sown to get germination. GA 250 ppm was found to induce the maximum germination of seeds. The growth characters analysed based on the height of seedlings, girth of seedlings and number of leaves produced also revealed the superiority of GA 250 ppm.
The seed germination and seedling survival was always high under mist. The conditions prevailed under the mist i.e. an ambient temperatures of 23 to 270 C, soil temperature 20 to 230 C and high relative humidity 98 per cent was found to be the most congenial condition for both seed germination and seedling survival. The germination and survival was enhanced to the maximum when the effect of GA 250 ppm and mist were combined. The seasonal influence on seed germination was negligible while the seedling survival was highest during rainy season.
The experiment on seed storage showed that the viability increased after extraction and attained maximum two months after storage. The viability decreased there after and was lost completely seven months after storage. Cloth was found to be a useful material for storing the seeds.
Vegetative propagation through shoot cuttings, root cuttings, intact roots, budding and layering were tried. Shoot cuttings failed to root irrespective of the various chemical treatments and conditions provided for rooting. Similarly root cuttings also did not regenerate. But the sucker production from the intact roots could be accelerated by injuring the roots. Out of the four types of roots viz. 3 cm, 5 cm, 7 cm and 10 cm thick roots, 3 cm thick roots proved to be superior in terms of percentage sprouting, vigour and growth. The survival of the sucker after transplanting was also maximum in 3 cm thick roots.
Out of the two methods of budding viz. patch and ‘T’ budding, patch budding was found to be significantly superior in terms of sprouting, survival and subsequent growth. Defoliation prior to budding was found to be beneficial for sprouting and growth of buddings.
The experiment on air layering indicated that callus formation was confined to the treatment with IBA especially at lower concentrations. The callus so formed, however, did not differentiate into roots.