Domestication of Osbeckia octandra

Abstract

Osbeckia octandra (Melastomataceae) is a rare endemic perennial plant with a highmedicinal value which can also be used as an ornamental species as it bear beautiful violetcolour flowers. Though the availability of these plants have restricted to certain areas of thecountry and has a limited distribution it should be propagated using successful masspropagation techniques.

Osbeckia octandra found at the Pilikuththuwa forest reserve located in Gampaha district, SriLanka was use in this study. Stem cuttings of O. octandra with 4 to 5 nodes were tested usingdifferent potting mixtures (sand alone, compost: sand (1:1) and compost: coir dust (1:1) todetermine the best growth medium for vegetative propagation. Length of roots, number ofroots and the dry weights of roots were measured after four months of the growth.

Based on one way ANOVA analysis it was observed that there was a significant difference(P<0.05) between the three media compositions used on rooting of stem cuttings. Tukey’spairwise comparison proved, mean root lengths, mean number of roots and mean root dryweights of stem cuttings planted on compost: coir dust medium at the fourth month differsignificantly from sand medium and the compost: sand medium. Compost: coir dust (1:1)medium produced the highest number of roots, highest length and highest dry weights ofroots of stem cuttings. From the results obtained it could be suggested that out of all threemedia used compost: coir dust (1:1) was the most suitable medium for rooting of O. octandrastem cuttings.