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Grassroots Biotechnology for Banana! |
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Three farmers from Chandragiri village have come up with an innovative practice of banana propagation. Their practice has made banana cultivation easy and cost effective.
Two years ago, they heard about the Tissue Cultured Banana Technology wherein a cell/tissue from the plant, under laboratory conditions, grew up to a whole plant. These farmers collected rhizomes from the uprooted plants and separated cormlets from the mother rhizome.
The separated cormlets are places in a 12 X 10 cm size polythene covers with a pot mixture of Tank silt and FYM. In a week after planting sprouting takes place. The seedlings thus raised are ready for planting in the main field after two to two and half months.
The chief advantages of this method are quick and easy propagation, good establishment of seedling in the field without any mortality, uniformity in growth, development and good bearing. About four to ten cormlets can be had from one mother rhizome. Moreover, farmers can save a good amount on seedling cost by using this method.
S Venkatesh, S Lingamayya, & S Bhaskar
Pulivendula Division, Cuddapah District, Andhra Pradesh
Sheep Grazing to Defoliate Jasmine Leaves
Two major species of Jasmine (Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. and Jasminum grandiflorum L.) are grown in the Cuddapah district. After the bloom period, in the month of November, the shrubs are subjected to moisture stress by withholding irrigation and subjected to nipping to remove
apical buds.
Chemical defoliation is costly and if not administered properly, can lead to death of the plants. Hence, farmers here follow the indigenous technique of sheep grazing for pruning leaves in Jasmine (Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. and Jasminum grandiflorum L.). The procedure is easy, entails no extra cost and gives higher yields.
(Similar practices have been reported from Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and other states for gram (Cicer arietinum L.) to overcome apical dominance. The lateral branching is enhanced and that improves the yield.)
Contributors: Dr B Srinivasulu & V Ravindra Naik
Scientists, ANGRAU, DAATT Centre, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh - 516001 |
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee, 17(3):13, 2006 |
