Identification of high yielding genotypes of Dashmool Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum) drug plant and its cultivation under high density planting

In Ayurveda, roots of 10 perennial medicinal plants are used together (5 herbs and 5 tree species) as Dashmool, considered highly efficacious in management of several common ailments. Amongst, the classical formulations the “Dashmoolarista„ is most popular and is used as basic ingredient in manufacture of over 109 drug formulations. It generates a large demand for the raw materials in the industry and as a result the roots of some of these species are in short supply. This has led to use of allied species and their whole plant (viz. Panchang). The present study deals with agro-botanical and chemical studies on genetic stock of one ingredient namely Shalparni growing all over plains in the country. An attempt was made to identify short-duration, high root and biomass yielding line for regular cultivation at Vapi (south Gujarat). In all, 35 Shalparni germplasm, have been collected and evaluated for two growing cycles (years) and identified the two promising lines were (ZFDG 1 & ZFDG 21) based on analysis of their growth, yield and content (roots and shoots samples) early harvest at 12 months age and were superior in quality compared to the wild growing material used in the industry. Its cultivation practices have been developed and the requirements of raising seedlings, planting time, spacing, fertilizer use and irrigation of the genotype ZFDG 1 are worked out.