Rathnayake R.M.D.H.¹, Dharmadasa R.M.^2,, Abeysinghe D.C.¹

Pogostemon heyneanus Benth. (Lamiaceae) is an industrially important aromatic crop extensively cultivated in Asian countries as the main ingredient of perfume, high valued cosmetic and an array of ayurvedic products. Eventhogh it has high potential as an industrial crop, commercial cultivation in Sri Lanka is hampered due to lack of authentic, superior quality planting materials and optimized protocol for mass propagation of P. heyneanus. Therefore, in the present study an attempt has been made to investigate the optimum protocol for mass propagation of authentic, superior quality variety of P. heyneanus in order to ensure the commercial scale cultivation in Sri Lanka. Two types of cuttings (single and double nodal) at three maturity stages (i.e. softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood) were obtained from healthy mother plants and planted in poly bags filled with top soil: sand: compost ratios of 1:1:1, 1:1:2 and 1:2:1. Number of leaves, number of branches, length of branches, height and the spreading of plants were recorded at 2 weeks intervals. Data were analysed and the highest plant height (52.9 ± 2.1 cm), length of branches (82.2 ± 5.6 cm), number of leaves (32.3 ± 2.6), number of branches (4.6 ± 1.5) and spreading of plant canopy (28.5 ± 1.7 cm) were observed in hardwood double nodal cuttings planted in potting medium 1:1:1 ratio. It is thus suggested to use hardwood double nodal cuttings as planting material and top soil 1: sand 1: compost 1 as potting medium for propagation of P. heyneanus in commercial scale cultivation.

Lamiaceae, maturity stage, Pogostemon heyneanus, potting media, vegetative propagation