COMPARATIVE STUDY ON PROPAGATION METHODS OF THE MEDICINAL PLANT Phyllanthus debilis Klin ex willd.

Abstract

Phyllanthus debilis is an annual herb, which has a high demand in Ayurvedic Medicine. Due to the lack of knowledge in propagation, inexpensive propagation methods cannot be practiced, although there are high technological methods available, which are complex and expensive. Therefore, it is very important to identify a simple, less time-consuming propagation method for Phyllanthus debilis. Establishment of a herbal plantation using simple vegetative propagation (stems) has some limitations such as the late rooting, limited amount of plants and time consuming. But sufficient amount of strong healthy seedlings can be obtained rapidly through the sexual propagation. The experiments of reproductive propagation were carried out in plant house using simple propagation techniques under the conditions of temperature 28 °C, relative humidity 80 % - 85 % and the maximum instantaneous Light levels of 800 pmol m-2 s-1 and 300 pmol m-2s-1. The type of the seed whether orthodox, recalcitrant, intermediate was identified using preliminary experiments (test of seed moisture content, seed viability and seed weight). Results of the preliminary test showed that the moisture content was as 14 %, seed viability varying up to 3 - 4 months, and average seed weight as 0.3 mg. and 178 fruits per gram was precent. Therefore, seeds of Phyllanthus debilis were categorized under “intermediate seed”considering their moisture content and viability. The determination of best potting mixture, best method to raised seedlings and the best maturity stage of fruit for extraction were performed all week study period. The highest growth performance (in terms of number of leaves, height and root collar diameter) of the plants were recorded under the media of loam : compost: sand mixed in a ratio of 1 : 1 : 1, loam .compost 1 : 1 and loamy soil. Seeds obtained from manually split fruits sown in a medium of loam ; compost: sand mixed in a ratio of 1 : 1 : 1 respectively was found to be the best method to raise seedlings of phyllanthus debilis. Seeds obtained from mature fruits at the blackish green stage and germinated under blotting sheet gave a 91 % success. Hence, it can be concluded that seeds obtained from mature fruit at the blackish green stage by splitting manually and grown in a media of loam : compost: sand mixed in the ratio of 1 :1:1, loam : compost 1 : 1 and loamy soil under the maximum instantaneous light level of 800 pmol m-2 s-1 give the highest propagation success for Phyllanthus debilis .