Clonal Propagation of Drypetes malabarica (Bedd.) Airy Shaw An Endemic and Endangered Tree of Southern Western Ghats

Abstract

The juvenile plants of Drypetes malabarica have resulted 100% rooting success for both stem cuttings and air layering by the application of NAA 3000 and IAA 1000 ppm respectively. The rooted plants were also survived with cent percent success rate. Since the tree is being prone to high degree of fruit predation, seed infestation and overall poor natural regeneration in situ restricts, the soil seed and seedling bank and merit extend clonal propagation of the species. The propagation methods thus developed first time could be adopted for the large scale multiplication, establishing clonal gene banks ex situ which in turn ensures the availability of materials for conservation, evaluation and management practices without affecting natural populations of the species in the long run.

Physiological Maturity of Tropical Forest Seeds: A Boon to Improved Harvest and Storage Practice of Recalcitrant Seeds?

“…magnifica, Myristica beddomei, Gymnacranthera farquhariana and Knema attenuata), the recalcitrant nature of seeds and inability of clonal reproduction are the major causes for the dwindling of the population size (Ranjith and Jose, 2016;Anilkumar et al, 2002). Under natural conditions, the seed viability of Hydnocarpus macrocarpa lasts only for seven days (Jose et al, 2014). Along with this seed predation and poor natural regeneration leads to the endangerment of these species.…”