Standardisation of propagation techniques in baduvapuli (Citurs pennivessiculata Tan)

Abstract

Investigations were carried out at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara ; Central Nursery, Vellanikkara and ARS, Mannuthy to standardise the propagation techniques in Baduvapuli (Citrus pennivessiculata Tan.) from September 1993 to August 1995. From the study, it was found that cuttings, layering and soft wood grafting can be adopted as reliable and successful propagation methods in Baduvapuli. Though budding is the universal method of propagation in Citrus, it was not successful in Baduvapuli. In cuttings, five noded hard wood cuttings and terminal soft wood leafy cuttings treated with IBA 1900 mg 1-1 was found to be the most successful in respect of percentage sprouting and all other qualitative root characters. The treated cuttings planted from February to October gave good results, with August and September proving the best months. For early rooting of cuttings, 45 days of banding was found to be the most reliable method. Planting the cuttings during February – March showed the highest percentage survival. In layering, hard wood shoots layered with coconut fibre or saw dust during March to October revealed the best results regarding rooting efficiency and qualitative aspects of rooting. Early and higher rooting percentage was obtained with shoots which were banded for 45 days. The survival of layers were high when planted during the rainy months of June, July and September. Soft wood grafting (higher to not reported in case of Citrus) was very successful in Baduvapuli with Rangpur lime, Rough lemon, Malta and Acid lime as root stocks. Rangpur lime was found to be the best root stock for Baduvapuli. For grafting, the scion should be prepared with leaves. The most successful month for grafting was May – June. The root initials were found to be originating from pericycle in cuttings. The different anatomical stages of rooting were clearly identified in cuttings. Biochemical analysis of the cuttings revealed that the amino acids, proteins, nitrogen, carbohydrates, C/N ratio and starch content increased during initiation of roots and priniordia formation but decreased during root emergence.