To solve the non-availability of quality planting materials of ginger, turmeric and tapioca crops, especially for the newly developed varieties, the Indian Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Mannuthy, of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has come out with production and supply of ready-to-plant plantlets of ginger and turmeric and rooted single nod cuttings of tapioca (cassava). This is stated in an aricle on the New Indian Express
These plantlets are produced by a mass multiplication technique for large-scale production of planting materials of crops like tapioca, ginger and turmeric.
This method helps derive more plantlets from rhizomes, considerably reducing the quantity of rhizomes required for planting and also lead to uniform maturing of the crop.
In the traditional multiplication method, cut pieces of rhizomes are used for making plantlets of ginger and turmeric while multiple nodded cuttings are used for generating tapioca plantlets. In the case of ginger and turmeric, farmers require an average of six to eight kg of seed material for planting in one cent (40 sq m) under traditional method.
Under the mass multiplication method, an average of 500 plants is obtained from one kg of seed material. In case of tapioca, 50-60 rooted cuttings can be prepared from a 3m-long cassava stem which is 5-6 times more than the output of traditional method, U Jayakumaran, Head of the ARS, said.
In the mass multiplication method, rhizomes are cut into single node pieces, soaked in a mixture of insecticide and fungicide solution for 10-15 minutes and planted in portrays filled with good quality coir pith compost. The trays are kept in propagating structures covered with UV stabilised polythene sheet.
Irrigation is required only when the media is dry. The rhizome pieces germinate within two weeks and good mass of roots are observed within a period of three weeks.
Similarly for cassava, mass multiplication is achieved by using stem cuttings having single buds and planting these cuttings in portrays with 5cm cavity size. The other preparatory steps are similar to that of ginger and turmeric.
The plantlets get ready for planting within a month. Mass multiplied plantlets can be kept in portrays for a maximum of 6-8 weeks with sufficient fertigation, Sreelatha M U, scientist at the ARS, said.
Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, will provide rooted plantlets of tapioca, ginger and turmeric based on the demand from the public, KAU officials said.
Source: newindianexpress.com





Announcements
Job Offers
- Commercial Manager Spain
- Crop Farm Manager Sharjah
- Commercial Manager Soft Fruits
- Assistant Nursery Manager - Tasmania, Australia
- Tissue Culture Lab / Operations Manager - Victoria, Australia
- Irrigation Manager - Tasmania or Victoria
- Chief Executive Officer Hortifrut IG Berries
- Head of Operations - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Greenhouse grower / production manager - Brazil
- Experienced International Trade Specialist
"Tweeting Growers"
Top 5 -yesterday
Top 5 -last week
Top 5 -last month
India : Agricultural Research Station to Solve Shortage of Quality Planting Materials
Publication date:
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2022-07-01 Chinese cauliflower seeds are blooming in Pakistan
- 2022-06-30 US (TX): Gunni Gal’s Van Zandt brings aquaponic farming to valley
- 2022-06-30 India: researchers develop method to detect defects in vegetable seeds using x-ray imaging
- 2022-06-28 Aquaponics takes fish, nutrients and a lot of sweat
- 2022-06-27 Genetia BioSciences receives Swiss delegation on stimulation Czech-Swiss cooperation
- 2022-06-24 Finnish lettuce greenhouse uses industry waste wood to heat the greenhouse
- 2022-06-24 21-year-old student establishes hydroponics business with only P1,000
- 2022-06-22 'Primavera, Victory and Inspire are a safe bet for strawberry growers in the Mediterranean'
- 2022-06-22 EIT Food partner ART21 announces over EUR 1 million of high-tech services to help rebuild Ukraine’s agrifood sector
- 2022-06-22 US (MA): Tomato dream comes true for Ken Foppema, who started farming almost 40 years ago
- 2022-06-22 China: Village official helps farmers escape poverty by growing fruits and vegetables
- 2022-06-22 Canadian grower plans 45-acre organic strawberry expansion
- 2022-06-22 "Finland is an interesting region with good opportunities for hybrid greenhouses"
- 2022-06-21 Ancient seeds found in southern Türkiye
- 2022-06-21 Greenhouse and Kitchen provide food and education in the fight for good nutrition
- 2022-06-21 Kenya: Farmers urged to grow alternative crops to protect environment
- 2022-06-21 Picking blueberries for a good cause
- 2022-06-20 Partners growing mushrooms in former shipping container
- 2022-06-20 "We used Plant Empowerment to boost our yields"
- 2022-06-20 California bell peppers shift growing regions