Effect of Phytohormones on Propagation of Himalayan Yew (<I>Taxus baccata</I> L.) Through Stem Cuttings

Abstract

Like many other medicinal plants , Taxus baccata is also facing extinction in its natural habitats due to increased market demand and consequent excessive destructive harvesting. Vegetative propagation through stem cuttings was tried for germplasm of Taxus baccata collected from Lokhandi area of Dehra Dun District (Uttaranchal) with varying concentrations of different phyto-hormones (IAA , IBA , NAA and GA₃) and modes of application. IBA was the most suitabJe hormone , foUowed by IAA , NAA and GA₃ respectiveJy for the induction of higher rooting percentage , number of roots and length of roots. The study revealed that IBA at 10 ,000 ppm is optimum for induction of better rooting percentage , higher number and greater length of primary roots in the juvenile stem cuttings of Taxus baccata