Palihakkara IR and Ekanayake EMUI*
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana,
Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka
Abstract
Mangroves are the foundation species that control ecosystem dynamics and identifying
their vegetative propagation methods is important to conserve them. This study was conducted to identify
suitable combinations
of potting media and indole-3butyric acid (IBA) concentrations for the propagation of Excoecaria
agallocha (milky mangrove) stem cuttings sourced from Madu Ganga Wetland in south west rainforest region of Sri Lanka. Three IBA concentrations (2500, 3000 and 3500ppm) and three potting
media (P1. lagoon silt, P2. clay and sand (1:1), and P3. topsoil, coir -dust, compost and sand (4: 4: 4: 1) were
factorially combined in a Completely Randomized Design with five replicates. The control treatment was 2500
ppm IBA with P2 potting media. There was no interaction effect for survival percentage, root dry weight and
shoot number between potting media and IBA concentration. For survival percentage, and root dry weight,
significantly highest values were observed in 3500ppm IBA. Shoot number was significantly higher in P3 while the
survival percentages were significantly greater in P1 and P3 potting media than control. The average number of
roots, root length, and root volume, were significantly greater in 35000ppm IBA with P1 media. According to the
vigor scales, the highest root vigor was depicted by lagoon silt treated with 3500 ppm IBA while the highest shoot
vigor was observed from P3 media treated with 3500 ppm IBA. Results revealed that treating stem cuttings with
3500ppm IBA and using P1 or P3 potting media are the most effective method to propagate E. agallacha through
stem cuttings out of the treatments tested in this study.
Keywords:
Excoecaria agallocha, IBA, potting media, vegetative propagation, Milky mangrove
Full Text :
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* - Corresponding Author
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