tailieunhanh - Standardization of rapid multiplication technique (RMT) in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.)

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) is an important tuber cultivated in India. Cassava is vegetatively propagated through stem cuttings (setts). A mature plant with two stems will give about 12 to 20 normal sized (20 cm) setts after one year. Farmers are practicing 8-10 cm long cuttings from the mature part of stem and planted in vertical position in nursery bed at closer spacing of 5 cm. Under conventional system of propagation, 1250 to 1500 stems are required for planting one hectare of area. Cassava is highly susceptible to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and disease spreads through infected setts and transmitted by white flies. In the present investigation, normal set, mini sett and chip bud are planted in different growing media viz., cocopeat, vermicompost and pot mixture with addition of Pseudomonas. The results revealed that the minimum number of days () required for sprouting, maximum sprouting percentage (), lengthiest roots ( cm) and maximum number of roots () was recorded in Cocopeat + Chip bud and the minimum sprouting percentage () was observed in Cocopeat + Pseudomonas + Normal sett (M1S1). In this new rapid multiplication technique, tagging disease free plants and using them for propagation offers reliable solution to manage the disease as lesser quantity of setts are required for planting. In addition to the above, the planting materials of newly released varieties can be easily multiplied in large scale and supplied to the farmers. | Standardization of rapid multiplication technique RMT in cassava Manihot esculenta Crantz.