Standardization of Propagation Techniques in Annual Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) for Enhancing Crop Uniformity

Abstract

An investigation on annual Moringa, Moringa oleifera Lam., var., (PKM 1 and PKM2) with the objective of standardizing the method of vegetative propagation was carried out at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam. the treatment consisted of three factors viz., cultivars (Factor 1: Moringa variety PKM 1 and PKM2), propagation methods (Factor 2: hardwood cuttings, semi hardwood cuttings and air layering) and application of different concentration of growth regulator IBA (Factor 3:0, 1500, 2500 and 4000 ppm) and the trial was laid out with twenty four treatments using Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The overall result revealed that the treatment combinations of PKM 1 air layering treated with IBA 4000 ppm registered the highest dry matter content of root (70.00%) and PKM 1 hardwood cuttings treated with IBA 4000 ppm recorded the highest dry shoot to root ratio (9.19). In PKM 2 semi hardwood cuttings treated with IBA 1500 ppm registered the highest root length (16.30cm) and dry matter content of shoot (61.99%). PKM 2 air layers treated with IBA 4000 ppm took minimum number of days to root (17.99 days), days to sprout (9.85 days) had the highest root fresh weight (2.70g), root dry weight (1.80g), shoot fresh weight (12.52g) and shoot dry weight (6.90g). This study concluded that air layering with 2500 to 4000 ppm IBA treatment is best pro pragation method for PKM1 and PKM 2 annual moringa.