Vegetative propagation of Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth and Valeriana jatamansi Jones through macroproliferation technique for large scale nursery production

Western Himalayan region is endowed with rich diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants. The number of valuable medicinal plant species found in this part of India is extensively used by the locals since ancient times for curing various human ailments. Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth (Kutki) and Valeriana jatamansi Jones (Mushakbala) are important temperate medicinal plants species found in western Himalayas and possess great potential for viable commercial cultivation. The Kutki is found in the higher reaches of western Himalayas at an altitudinal range of 2,700-4,500 meter above msl where as Valeriana jatamansi is found in temperate Himalayas at an altitudinal range of 1,300- 3,800 meter above msl. Based on IUCN threat status Kutki has been listed in the category of Endangered (EN) whereas Mushakbala in the category of Vulnerable (VU) for the states of Western Himalayan region. Keeping in view the importance of these species, a simple low cost technique has been developed for vegetative production of Kutki and Mushakbala through macroproliferation in large quantities. This method ensures that each propagule possesses some part of shoot along with rhizome part and some roots at the time of separation, ensuring rapid establishment and practically 100 per cent survival of the propagated material. The critical factors identified for the success of this technique are time of separation, portion of shoot/root/rhizome to be retained in each propagule and providing appropriate growing conditions for planting of separated propagules. The technique has been successfully applied for the production of 2.8 lakhs nursery stock of Mushakbala and 1.85 lakhs nursery stock of Kutki during 2004 to 2008 under National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) funded project which was implemented by Himalayan Forest Research Institute. Through this technique desirable number of nursery stock could be maintained permanently in the nursery for further propagation without depleting population of these two species in their natural habitat.