Influence of tuber weight and cutting on growth and yield of safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum)

ABSTRACT

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of different weight of planting material and cutting on safed musli cultivation. Tubers were divided into three weight categories (3, 6 and 9 g bulk⁻¹) and were either planted as whole or cut tubers. The plant growth and development were recorded at 60, 90 and 120 days after sprouting (DAS). The results showed that both factors had no interaction for all parameters measured. The sprouting percentage was not significantly different in all the treatments. The weight of planting materials used in the treatments had no influence on the overall plant growth and development. However, there was a significant difference observed between whole tuber and cut tuber treatments. At 90 DAS, tubers subjected to cutting encouraged the plants to produce the higher number of leaves (22.7) with improved total leaf area (642 cm²), fibrous root length (2795 cm) and tuber dry weight (7.8 g). The same pattern was observed at 120 DAS where the cut tubers produced the higher number of tubers (20.7) with increased length (8.6 cm) and diameter (6.6 mm). Consequently, these factors resulted in higher yield, 15.7 as compared to 13.6 g bulk⁻¹ in non-cut treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Tuberous roots
• saponins
• cultivation
• planting material

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Universiti Putra Malaysia for providing research facilities to successfully carry out this work.

Disclosure statement

The authors do not have conflict of interest.