Mass propagation of aromatic plant

1. PRESENTATION
ON
Propagation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
AGRN-725 Agronomy of Medicinal, Aromatic and Under Utilized Crops

2. • Essential oils are extracted from the aromatic plants. Such
essential oils have good fragrance and most of them have rare
medicinal properties.
• An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing
volatile aromatic compounds from plants. Essential oils are also
known as volatile, ethereal oils or ‘aetherolea’.
• Aromatic plants and aromatic oils have a great demand in
domestic as well as international market.
Introduction

3. • There are more than 1500 known aromatic plants species
serving as a source of raw materials for the perfumery and
cosmetic industry in India.
• Out of total 1500 aromatic plant species, nearly 500 aromatic
plants species have been studied for their chemical, aromatic
and medicinal properties .
• Out of 500 aromatic plant species studied, nearly 50 species
found commercial source of essential oils and aroma chemicals.
While less than 12 plants are used on large scale in the industry.
Scope for Aromatic Plants Cultivation:

4. • Essential oils and aromatic chemicals constitute a group of
industrial products found indispensable place in many human
celebrations and festivals in the form of cosmetics, soaps,
pharmaceuticals, perfumes, confectionery, ice-creams, scented
waters, disinfectants, scented tobacco and agarbathi etc.
• Use of essential oils in therapeutics treatment is becoming popular
around the world. Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils
and aromatics derived from plants to cure diseases, many times
better than antibiotics, due to their safety and wide spectrum activity.
Importance of aromatic plants:

5. Ashwagandha
Botanical name : Withania somnifera
Family : Solanaceae
Ashwagandha seeds do not have dormancy
hence, commonly propagated by seeds. For
sowing of ashwagandha, use the seeds that were
harvested during the previous season and of
good quality.

6. Ashwagandha Nursery Rising
About 2kg of seeds are required for 1 acre. To avoid
diseases; the seeds are treated with Dithane M-45 at the
rate of 3gm per kg of seed before sowing. The seeds in
nursery beds are sown in lines spaced at 5cm and
covered with light soil or sand. Its starts to germinate
within 7 to 8 days. When the seedling grows to a height
of 60cm that is in 6 weeks time, they are transplanted in
row of the main field.

7. Sarpgandha
Botanical name : Rauvolfia serpentina
Family : Apocynaceae
Seed
The ripe seeds collected from the beginning of June to
the end of October retain their viability for six months.
Seeds are sown in raised beds at a depth of 1cm in the
nursery in lines 10cm apart with 5cm distance from seed
to seed. About 5.5kg of seeds sown in 0.05 ha area of
nursery give adequate number of seedlings to plant one
hectare. The seeds germinate within three weeks.

8. Root cuttings
The large tap roots as well as lateral secondary rootlets
are employed for preparing the cuttings of 2.5-3.0cm.
Planting is done in holes of 5cm deep at the advent of
monsoon and covered with 2.5-5.0cm top layer of soil.
The cuttings sprout within three weeks if good moisture
is maintained during the period.
Stem cuttings
Stem cuttings of 15-20cm length with three internodes
should be planted in the month of July-August in the
nursery and kept moist. They strike roots within 60 days
afterwards they are transplanted to the mainfield.

9. Lemongrass
Botanical name : Cymbopogon citratus
Family : Poaceae
Lemongrass rapidly expands its bulbs by clumping and
is propagated by division. Dividing lemongrass
annually maintains plant health and creates new plants.
After the last frost, trim the grass to 2 inches high
before dividing. Using a sharp trowel or pointed shovel,
slice straight down between the bulbs, leaving at least
an inch of roots on each bulb.

10. Common Name: Bursera / Indian lavender
Botanical name : Bursera delpechiana
Family : Burseraceae
Chemical content : Linalool
Uses : Indian Lavender is used as flavoring agent in food and
beverages industries. It is also used in perfumery, toy making
and furniture making. Indian lavender oil can serve as a
substitute for true lavender oil obtained from Lavendula
angustifolia, which is currently being imported in India. Indian
lavender is hardy plant easy to cultivate and is less attacked by
pests and diseases.
Bursera / Indian lavender

11. Bursera:
Bursera Tree.Bursera Leaves

12. Indian lavender can be propagated by seeds, however, it is
commercially propagated by layering, grafting, coppicing and cutting.
• Seeds: Indian Lavender seeds takes about six months to
germinate with very poor germination percentage due to hard seed
coat and internal dormancy and seed propagation not viable.
• The seed remains viable for very short duration and only 5 to 10 %
seeds germinates in seed beds. Seeds are collected in February to
May and sown soon for better germination.
• Seedlings are raised to a height of 15 cm and then transplanted in
larger containers till they attain height of 45 cm.
Bursera: Propagation

13. • Air Layering: It has a good success rate about 80-100%. It is
practiced from October to January months. Root initiation requires 26
to 30 days. Layers become ready for separation in 2 months time.
• Cutting: It is commercially successful and easy method of
propagation. Selected mother plants must be at least 5 years old.
0.5 to 1.0 m long and 1-3 cm thick Cuttings are taken from mother
plants in February-March. Cuttings are kept inverted for 12-24 hrs
and planted in polybags / earth pot where they sprout after about 30-
40 days. Healthy root systems require 4-6 months to develop. Cutting
must be transplanted in August-September for better establishment.
Vegetative Propagation Methods:

14. Common Name: Chamomile
Botanical name : Matricaria chamomile
Family : Asterceae
Chemical content : Azalene, viscos oil apigenine
Uses: German Chamomile is widely used traditional and modern
medicines. Blue essential oil is extracted chamomile has great
demand in international markets. Chamomile is grown in
Jammu, Kashmir and Assam states and used in Cosmetics,
perfumery, drugs and confectionary industries as flavoring
agents.
Chamomile

15. Chamomile
Chamomile Flowers
Chamomile dried flowers with seeds
Chamomile Entire Plant

16. • Chamomile plant is commercially propagated by seed. Seeds are
light in weight. 10 gm seeds are sown on raised nursery beds of
10m x 10m dimension.
• Some times seeds are directly sown in field. This method
increases the requirement of the seed. 1 kg seeds are sufficient for
3 hectares land for direct sowing.
Chamomile: Propagation

17. Sowing: Seeds are sown on raised beds, ensuring proper aeration
and drainage of excessive water. The seeds are small, light and fine
and therefore mixed with fine sand in ratio of 1:4 to ensure even
distribution of seeds through out the seed bed.
After sowing of seeds, the seedbeds are watered frequently to avoid
moisture stress. Seeds require 15-20 days for germination. Seedlings
are ready for transplantation in 4 to 5 weeks duration.
Chamomile: Propagation