Impact of auxins on clonal propagation of Myristica fatua Houtt. and Vateria macrocarpa B. L. Gupta, two critically endangered important medicinal tree species of southern Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Myristica fatua is a critically endangered tree with medicinal novel compounds viz. Lignan and Diaryl nonanoids having in vitro cytotoxic activities against breast cancer. Vateria macrocarpa also is a critically endangered medicinal tree which is the source of an anti-bacterial gum‘Kundirigum’. The destructive harvesting of these two species, restricted habitat and climate changes etc. pose serious threat to their survival. The present study was therefore conducted to raise clonal genetic stock of these species by induced rooting of differentially aged Vateria macrocarpa stem cuttings and air layering twigs of Myristica fatua with the aid of different auxins (IAA, IBA and NAA) under different concentrations. The cuttings of Myristica fatua and air layering twigs of Vateria macrocarpa exhibited 70% of rooting success under NAA-1000 ppm concentration with 65 – 75% RH and 30- 35?C.