Vegetative Propagation in Silviculture (hills) Division, Darjeeling (West Bengal)

Abstract

Over the years, after the futile attempts to develop methods of long-term storage of recalcitrant seeds, vegetative propagation by shoot cutting, root cuttings and grafting got developed as a viable option. Multiplication of seedling material asexually generates clonal material allowing not only seed problems to be solved to an extent but also gives an opportunity for genetic election. The basic requirement for all plant propagation is to increase plants with desirable traits, with vegetative propagation plant which breed true type can be increased. As an important aspect of Tree Improvement Programme, vegetative propagation by grafting and cutting in the specially designed mist chambers and glasshouses in all the nurseries of Silviculture (Hills) Division, Darjeeling (West Bengal) were undertaken since 1992. A high percentage of success in clonal propagation for major hill species has been achieved. The details of all such endeavours have been elucidated in this article.