Chapter 4 - Propagation of bamboo

IRG/WP 07-10635-04

A K Lahiry

The cultivation and propagation of bamboos are very essential to meet various human needs and environmental requirements. Different methods of propagation and regeneration of bamboos have been described in this chapter. The possibility of propagation through seeds are restricted and limited because of its inadequacy and non-viability. Due to this natural obstacle bamboos are predominately propagated by natural vegetative multiplications. Hence the possible common and easy way of artificial propagation (propagation by means of human actvity and nursing) is from its vegetative parts containing rhizomes, nodes and buds. The commonly pacticed artificial vegetative propagation methods are offset planting, part-clump planting, culm or stem cutting, branch cutting, ground layering, seedling layering, macroprolification of seedling, stump sprouting. The modern technique for the mass production of bamboos, which offers disease-free, monoclonal, superior, planting material in large numbers as and when required, is the tissue culture technique. The active materials for tissue culture are only the seeds, embryo and buds. Tissue culture helps to conquer the problems of non-viable seeds, scarcity of seeds and seedlings and helps in the restoration of the shrinking bamboo resources and ensures conservation of forestal environment.


Keywords: Propagation, Regeneration, Seeds, Vegetative, Offset, Node, Rhizome, Buds, Seedling, and Tissue culture


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