International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 3(7), pp. 121-125, July 2014 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Propagation of five high yielding clones of Labisia pumila var. alata and evaluation of their growth performances at nursery stage

Syafiqah Nabilah S. B.^1,2, Farah Fazwa M. A.¹*, Norhayati S.¹, Mohd Zaki A.¹ and Mohamad O.²

¹Plant Improvement Programme, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia.

²Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author E-mail: farah@frim.gov.my.

Accepted 4 July, 2014

Abstract

Five high yielding clones of Labisia pumila var. alata (DA5, TA7, TSA22, AA28 and TA8) were propagated through leaf cuttings. The objectives were to evaluate the rooting ability of the clones and to analyse the growth performances of the ramets produced from the cuttings. Cuttings were treated with rooting hormone and grown in an enclosed mist propagation chamber for 12 weeks. Clone TA7 showed the highest number of rooted cuttings with percentage of 100%, followed by clone TA8 with 95% successful rooted cuttings. In contrast, clone TSA22 showed the least number of rooted cuttings with the percentage of 85%. After being treated with hormone, the rooted cuttings were transplanted into a growing medium in polybag and hardened in an open mist propagation chamber before being transferred to the nursery. The growth performances of the ramets produced from the cuttings were observed at week 28 until week 36. Clone AA28 showed the best growth performances in collar diameter (2.62 mm), stem height (3.51 cm), leaf length (7.23 cm) and leaf width (3.62 cm). And in leaf production, clone TA8 produced the highest number of leaves per plant at 5.46 ± 0.26, followed by clone DA5 at 4.12 ± 0.26. It is inferred from this study that the stock plant condition plays a pivotal role in ensuring the quality of root development in the early stage while environmental conditions influence growth performance of the plantlets generally.

Key words: Cutting, growth performance, Labisia pumila, vegetative propagation.