Standardization of In-Situ Propagation Technique for Taxus baccata Linn. an Endangered Medicinal Plant of Western Himalayas

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to standardize the in-situ vegetative propagation protocol for Taxus baccata Linn. Therefore, a field tested FRI-Wire Technique, Air Layering and root promoting hormones such as Indole 3 - Butyric Acid (IBA), Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) and Napthelene Acetic Acid (NAA) at concentration of 1000 parts per million (ppm), 2500 ppm and 5000 ppm for each were evaluated. Air layering performed poorly on this species, whereas, FRI-Wire technique showed a remarkable success for rooting with hormones IBA and IAA at 1000 ppm and 2500 ppm concentrations, on all the three branch length sizes 22-28 cm, 30-36 cm and 45-51 cm. However, the branch sizes of 30-36 cm, when treated with IBA at 2500 ppm concentration performed significantly better and produced 86.66 percent rooting in comparison to other treatments with the technique. Henceforth, FRI-Wire technique can be effectively adopted for mass multiplication of this valuable species.