STUDIES ON PROPAGATION METHODS OF KONTHALAUN (Xylocarpus rumphii)

Abstract

Konthalaun is a rare plant with medicinal and industrial value. Seeds are used for thepreparation of Ayurvedic medicine caddied "Gopaluguliya" used as a treatment for foodpoisoning and snakebites. Since there is only a small population of Konthalaun treesdistributed along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka, multiplication and conservation of thisplant is of paramount importance.

Using nineteen mother trees of Konthalaun selected from four sites in the Galled district.This study was conducted at Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna and inUnawatuna area in Galle district to develop an efficient propagation method. Threepropagation methods manly stem cuttings, air layering and full mature viable seeds wereused in this study.

Seed germination was observed with five treatments.Tl - Soaking in ordinary water (Room T) for 12 hoursT2 - Soaking in hot water for 5 minutes (at 55°qT3 - Peeling the seed coat without damaging the (cotyledents)T4 - Soaking in 15% H2S04 solution for 2 minute and then wash out with distilledwaterTS - Soaking in sea water for 12hoursFor the stem cuttings three types of cuttings were taken and treated withcommercially available homone, (secto) and a control was used (no homones)T 1 - Soft and stem cuttings (3 leaves)T2 - Sproutings (3 leaves)T3 - Hard wood stem cuttings (3 leaves)

Hard wood and soft wood branches were air layered. These branches were treated withsecto and those without sccto also severed as the control

Sea water treated seeds showed the highest percentage of germination while the lowestgermination percentage was observed in peeled seeds.

Three weeks later all the cuttings showed sprouting. But six weeks later all sproutedcuttings in all treatments withered and died

After four months all treatments including the control showed root primodia initiationbut the number of root primodia was higher in soft wood than hard wood cuttings.Results showed that seed propagation (seed soaked in sea water) is the easiast method butair layering could also be used as an alternative method.