Abstract

Habenaria intermedia (Virdhii) an important medicinal orchids used in various Ayurvedic formulations such as Asthavarga, Jivinyavarga, Madhuravarga, and Chayvanprash. Presently its total supply is met out from the wild harvest as cultivation trials are in infancy stage. The species mainly grows in Himalayn moist and dry temperate forest especially in open grassland and mountain slopes. The combined effect of habitat destruction and irrational harvesting reduced natural population of these valuable herbal species. In the present study propagation protocols were developed for standardization of nursery bed layout, planting media, propagating material and germplasm storage methods of this species. Raised and ridge and furrow beds were found suitable in terms of maximum yield and biomass per tuber 102.67 gm/ m² and 5.59 gm and 96.69 gm/m² and 4.27 gm/m² respectively. Among eight types of media, maximum survival percentage (89.25%). Av. wt per tuber (7.13 gm) and total yield 159.21 gm/m² reflected in the medium, soil: FYM: sand: leaf litter (1:1:1:1) which was double than the control (nursery soil). Planting material of full tuber and half tuber resulted maximum yield 157.98 gm/ m² and 159.48 gm/ m² respectively while for the storage of germplasm by pit method and earthen pot with sand were given best result after six month of storage as 98% and 96% normal viable tubers respectively. The market potential of this species is high and thus their cultivation prospects are bright for hill farmers.

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