Abstract

The branch cuttings of Dendrocalamus asper were collected in the month of April 2009 from the already established phenotypically superior clumps growing in Forest Research Institute, Dehradun Campus. The cuttings were treated with rooting hormones (IAA, IBA, NAA and Coumarin with concentration of 500 ppm) to assess the rooting ability of branch cuttings under natural conditions. The binodal cuttings were made and were placed horizontally in plastic trays and vertically in earthen pots for rooting. Observations were recorded on rooting response of branch cuttings. Maximum 65% rooting was recorded in the cuttings treated with IBA 500 ppm followed by Control (untreated cuttings) 55% in horizontally placed cuttings. However, the minimum rooting percentage was observed in case of IAA 500 ppm and Coumarin 500 ppm (40%) treated cuttings. In vertically planted cuttings IBA 500 ppm shows maximum rooting percentage (55%) followed by NAA 500 ppm treated cuttings (50%) however minimum rooting was recorded in case of IAA and coumarin 500ppm. The cuttings planted horizontally gave better rooting response as compared to the cuttings planted vertically. IBA 500 ppm treatment has proved to be the best rooting hormone for rooting of branch cutting of Dendrocalamus asper. The number of root and shoot length was maximum in NAA 500 ppm treated cuttings, while there was less variation observed in sprout number with treatment.

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