Download Mass Propagation of Aromatic Plant

Introduction
•
Essential oils are extracted from the aromatic plants. Such
essential oils have good fragrance and most of them have rare
medicinal properties.
•
An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing
volatile aromatic compounds from plants. Essential oils are also
known as volatile, ethereal oils or ‘aetherolea’.
•
Aromatic plants and aromatic oils have a great demand in
domestic as well as international market.
Scope for Aromatic Plants Cultivation:
• There are more than 1500 known aromatic plants species
serving as a source of raw materials for the perfumery and
cosmetic industry in India.
• Out of total 1500 aromatic plant species, nearly 500 aromatic
plants species have been studied for their chemical, aromatic
and medicinal properties .
• Out of 500 aromatic plant species studied, nearly 50 species
found commercial source of essential oils and aroma chemicals.
While less than 12 plants are used on large scale in the industry.
Importance of aromatic plants:
• Essential oils and aromatic chemicals constitute a group of
industrial products found indispensable place in many human
celebrations and festivals in the form of cosmetics, soaps,
pharmaceuticals, perfumes, confectionery, ice-creams, scented
waters, disinfectants, scented tobacco and agarbathi etc.
• Use of essential oils in therapeutics treatment is becoming popular
around the world. Aromatherapy involves the use of essential oils
and aromatics derived from plants to cure diseases, many times
better than antibiotics, due to their safety and wide spectrum activity.
Bursera / Indian lavender
Common Name: Bursera / Indian lavender
Botanical name : Bursera delpechiana
Family : Burseraceae
Chemical content : Linalool
Uses : Indian Lavender is used as flavoring agent in food and
beverages industries. It is also used in perfumery, toy making and
furniture making. Indian lavender oil can serve as a substitute for
true lavender oil obtained from Lavendula angustifolia, which is
currently being imported in India. Indian lavender is hardy plant
easy to cultivate and is less attacked by pests and diseases.
Bursera:
Bursera Leaves
Bursera Tree.
Bursera: Propagation
Indian lavender can be propagated by seeds, however, it is
commercially propagated by layering, grafting, coppicing and cutting.
• Seeds:
Indian Lavender seeds takes about six months to
germinate with very poor germination percentage due to hard seed
coat and internal dormancy and seed propagation not viable.
• The seed remains viable for very short duration and only 5 to 10 %
seeds germinates in seed beds. Seeds are collected in February to
May and sown soon for better germination.
• Seedlings are raised to a height of 15 cm and then transplanted in
larger containers till they attain height of 45 cm.
Vegetative Propagation Methods:
• Air
Layering: It has a good success rate about 80-100%. It is
practiced from October to January months. Root initiation requires 26
to 30 days. Layers become ready for separation in 2 months time.
• Cutting:
It is commercially successful and easy method of
propagation. Selected mother plants must be at least 5 years old. 0.5
to 1.0 m long and 1-3 cm thick Cuttings are taken from mother plants
in February-March. Cuttings are kept inverted for 12-24 hrs and
planted in polybags / earth pot where they sprout after about 30-40
days. Healthy root systems require 4-6 months to develop. Cutting
must be transplanted in August-September for better establishment.
Chamomile
Common Name: Chamomile
Botanical name : Matricaria chamomile
Family : Asterceae
Chemical content : Azalene, viscos oil apigenine
Uses: German Chamomile is widely used traditional and modern
medicines. Blue essential oil is extracted chamomile has great
demand in international markets. Chamomile is grown in Jammu,
Kashmir and Assam states and used in Cosmetics, perfumery,
drugs and confectionary industries as flavoring agents.
Chamomile
Chamomile Entire Plant
Chamomile Flowers
Chamomile dried flowers with seeds
Chamomile: Propagation
• Chamomile plant is commercially propagated by seed. Seeds are
light in weight. 10 gm seeds are sown on raised nursery beds of
10m x 10m dimension.
• Some
times seeds are directly sown in field. This method
increases the requirement of the seed. 1 kg seeds are sufficient for
3 hectares land for direct sowing.
Chamomile: Propagation
Sowing: Seeds are sown on raised beds, ensuring proper aeration
and drainage of excessive water. The seeds are small, light and fine
and therefore mixed with fine sand in ratio of 1:4 to ensure even
distribution of seeds through out the seed bed.
After sowing of seeds, the seedbeds are watered frequently to avoid
moisture stress. Seeds require 15-20 days for germination. Seedlings
are ready for transplantation in 4 to 5 weeks duration.