Vegetative Propagation of <I>Pongamia pinnata</I> (L) Pierre: Hitherto a Neglected Species

Abstract

Pongamia pinnata is a moderate sized nearly evergreen tree. It is one of the underexploited/ neglected forest species. It is recently gaining importance due to its seed oil as substitute for diesel. Till now the most plantations of this species raised are seed route origin. The species exhibits tremendous variation in its' phenological habits. Therefore, in order to produce true to type offsprings and to get early yield from plantations vegetative propagation techniques like rooting of stem cuttings and graftings have been attempted. In the present trial both the techniques are successful. The hydropit structure (cost efficient green house) used in the trial helped in obtaining better success. The vegetative propagation method as a whole is easy, cost-efficient and replicable. There are studies underway to test the performance of stecklings (rooted stem cuttings) and grafts verses seedlings. The survey of literature and personal communications/contact with renowned foresters/scientists reveal that no planned work on clonal propagation have been done. Therefore, this is a new report on P.pinnata