Rauwolfia Serpentina: Studies on Optimum Methods of Propagation and their Effect on Production and Alkaloidal Content of Roots

Results of studies on methods of propagation and their optimum time of planting, etc., up to about 1-, 2- and 3-year-old plants of Rauwolfia serpentina (Linn.) Benth. ex Kurz are given. For this purpose a statistically designed experiment was conducted. The results confirm our previous indicative findings with 1-, 2- and 3-year-old plants that ischolar_main production of plants raised from seeds is much higher than that of plants raised vegetatively (ischolar_main cuttings or stem cuttings). Indeed, in the first year it is about 5 times that of plants raised from stem cuttings and about 2.4 times that of plants raised from ischolar_main cuttings (excluding mother ischolar_mains). During the second year it is about 9 times that of Stem cuttings and 2.6 times that of ischolar_main cuttings (excluding mother ischolar_mains). In the third year it is about 6.5 times that of stem cuttings and about 2.5 times that of ischolar_main cuttings (excluding mother ischolar_mains). The transplants raised from seeds sown in April have given the highest yield of ischolar_mains. There is also proportionate increase in ischolar_main production according to age. The total alkaloidal content of ischolar_mains was well above the I.P. and B.P.C. standard. Commercial plantations for ischolar_main production are best raised from seeds sown in April, under Dehra Dun conditions