ABSTRACT

Clonal forestry is a powerful tool for enhancing forest productivity, sustainability, and economic value while also contributing to conservation and research efforts. It ensures that the propagated plants are genetically identical to the parent tree. This study was conducted during the post-rainy and summer seasons from September 2023 to May 2024. Mature, disease-free leaves of six species, namely Celastrus paniculatus, Premna integrifolia, Morinda citrifolia, Bridelia stipularis, Swietenia mahagoni, and Cinnamon camphora, were treated with different concentrations of hormones, and leaf cuttings were propagated in coir pith using closed media sachet technique. Various combinations of growth hormones IBA (250 ppm and 500 ppm) and 6-BAP (5 ppm, 10 ppm, and 15 ppm) were applied to the leaf petiole and surface, respectively.
Observations after 120 days such as percentage of leaves survived, rooted, and sprouted; number of roots and sprouts per leaf; and the length of the longest root and sprout and biomass estimation. Though rooting was achieved in all species in either season, sprouting and complete plant regeneration were possible in three species: Morinda citrifolia, Bridelia stipularis, and Cinnamon camphora. Perhaps for the first time a complete regeneration has been achieved in these species. For most of the species IBA 250 ppm was found to be effective in inducing root and control condition is best suited for sprouting of leaves. The best season for rooting and sprouting is summer except for swietenia mahagoni. Clonal propagation offers advantages like genetic potential capture and yield improvement but faces limitations such as reduced biodiversity and susceptibility to pests. Leaf propagation emerges as an efficient method, ideal for rapid shooting and raising endangered species, with implications for improved plant multiplication and genetic preservation.