Methods of Propagation in Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana)
Ber, also called Indian jujube, is an important fruit crop in arid and semi-arid regions of India. It is propagated by both sexual (seed) and asexual (vegetative) methods. However, due to the variability in traits from seeds, asexual propagation is preferred for maintaining true-to-type plants.
1. Sexual Propagation (By Seeds)
- Procedure:
Seeds are extracted from fully ripe ber fruits, cleaned, and dried for a few days. They are then sown in well-prepared nursery beds or containers. - Advantages:
- Easy and inexpensive.
- Useful for raising rootstocks.
- Disadvantages:
- High genetic variability leading to poor quality and inconsistent fruit traits.
- Longer juvenile phase (3-5 years to fruiting).
- Seedlings may not resemble the parent tree.
- Use:
Mainly used for rootstock production in grafting.
2. Asexual (Vegetative) Propagation
Asexual propagation ensures true-to-type plants and early fruiting. Common methods include:
a) Grafting
- Types of grafting used:
- Approach grafting: Joining of scion and rootstock while both are attached to their respective plants.
- Side grafting and cleft grafting: Performed in nursery on rootstocks grown from seeds.
- Advantages:
- Maintains parent tree characteristics.
- Early fruiting (1-2 years).
- Enables mass multiplication of superior varieties.
- Procedure:
Rootstocks raised from seeds are grafted with scion wood taken from healthy, high-yielding trees during the active growth season (usually spring).
b) Budding
- Common method: T-budding
- Procedure:
A bud from the desired variety is inserted under the bark of the rootstock seedling. After successful union, the rootstock above the bud is cut back to promote growth of the bud. - Advantages:
- Simple and quick.
- Suitable for large-scale propagation.
- Produces true-to-type plants.
c) Cuttings
- Method: Hardwood cuttings from mature branches can be used.
- Procedure:
Cuttings of about 30-40 cm length with 3-4 nodes are taken and planted directly in rooting beds or polybags containing sandy soil. Rooting hormones (like IBA) may be applied to enhance root development. - Advantages:
- Simple and cost-effective.
- Rooted plants produce fruit earlier than seed-grown plants.
- Limitations:
- Lower success rate compared to grafting and budding.
- Cuttings may root poorly under adverse conditions.
d) Layering
- Types: Mound layering or serpentine layering.
- Procedure:
A low-growing branch is bent to the ground and covered with soil at one or more points while still attached to the mother plant. After root formation, the layered branch is cut and transplanted. - Advantages:
- Useful when grafting materials are limited.
- Rooted plants are clones of parent.
- Limitations:
- Time-consuming and less used commercially.
3. Tissue Culture (Micropropagation)
- An advanced technique involving the in vitro culture of ber tissues to produce large numbers of disease-free, true-to-type plants.
- Advantages:
- Rapid multiplication of elite varieties.
- Production of pathogen-free plants.
- Limitations:
- Requires specialized laboratory facilities and technical expertise.
- High cost compared to conventional methods.
Summary Table
| Propagation Method | Advantages | Disadvantages | Use in Ber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed propagation | Easy, inexpensive | Genetic variability, late fruiting | Rootstock production |
| Grafting | True-to-type, early fruiting | Requires skilled labor | Commercial multiplication |
| Budding | Simple, quick, true-to-type | Requires skill | Large-scale propagation |
| Cuttings | Cost-effective | Lower success rate | Small scale or backyard propagation |
| Layering | Produces true-to-type plants | Time-consuming | Limited commercial use |
| Tissue culture | Rapid, disease-free plants | Expensive, needs lab facilities | Advanced commercial propagation |
Conclusion
For commercial ber cultivation, grafting and budding are the most preferred methods because they produce true-to-type plants with early fruiting. Seed propagation is mainly used for raising rootstocks. Other methods like cuttings and layering are less common but useful in certain situations. With advancements, tissue culture offers a promising method for large-scale, disease-free plant production in ber.