Medicinal Plants - International Journal of Phytomedicines and Related Industries

Anisochilus carnosus of Lamiaceae family is an annual monocarpic seasonal ethnomedicinal plant propagated exclusively by seeds. To overcome its seasonal dependence and improve its availability throughout the year, present study was at the establishment of a method of vegetative propagation. The four leaf cuttings from acclimatized plants of glasshouse were treated with auxins [indole acetic acid (IAA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and indole 3-butyric acid (IBA)] to induce root formation at the concentration of 500 ppm and 1000 ppm for 30 min and were transplanted in vermiculite substrate and farmyard manure-red soil mixture (1: 1; w/w). The vermiculite substrate was supplemented with 100 mL/pot Hoagland and Arnon nutrient solution on alternative days for one month followed by tap water while farmyard manure-red soil pots were irrigated with tap water alone. The mean values of number of root and auxiliary shoot inductions were enumerated on 30^th d after plantation (DAP) of cuttings. IBA induced the maximum number of adventitious roots (166.67) in vermiculite and IAA produced more number of shoots (22.78) on farmyard manure. It was found that one cutting was able to produce 23 auxiliary buds, each auxiliary bud acted as a minimum of 3 propagules and single cutting yielded 69 plants (23×3=69). Thus, the study has established the vegetative propagation of A. carnosus and revealed the possibility for its cultivation throughout the year in the presence of surplus amount of water.