SUCCESSFUL ACCLIMATIZATION OF IN-VITRO ROOTED STEM CUTTINGS OF CINNAMON (Cinnamomum verum Presl)

Abstract

Hardening of regenerated plantlets for successful field transfer is consideredto be a major obstacle in clonal micro-propagation of cinnamon. In-vitroinduced roots are rarely functional, lack of root hairs, fragile and aregenerally damaged during transfer to the soil. Therefore, objectives of presentexperiments were to develop an appropriate acclimatization procedure and toselect a suitable potting media for successful field establishment of Cinnamon plantlets.

In-vitro rooted stem cuttings were transferred in to four different pottingmedia of Soil, Coir dust, Sand: Coir dust - (1: 1) and Soil: Sand - (1: 1)Sealed containers with sterilized potting media were used to maintain >80 %Relative humidity for 2 weeks and then gradually acclimatized to fieldconditions. Three different procedures (1) lid removed and kept in shade after2 weeks of transplanting (2) lid removed only at nights after 2 weeks oftransplanting, and (3) lid removed after 4 weeks of transplanting were used astreatments.

At the end of 4th week, plantlets in coir dust medium showed the highestsurvival rate (87.5 %). Higher number of new leaf formation was observed incoir dust medium and overall appearance of the plantlets was very good.Most plantlets in soil medium were dead at the end of the 4th week, andremaining plantlets were very weak. Acclimatization procedure did notsignificantly affect on growth or overall appearance of plantlets. Resultsrevealed that coir dust medium provided with two weeks of humid conditionsis the best for successful acclimatization of in-vitro Cinnamon plantlets.