Development and standardization of Nursery techniques of Meizotropis pellita: A critically endangered plant of Himalayan region

Meizotropis pellita (Wall. Ex Hook, F & Grew) is locally known as Patwa in Kumaun Himalaya of Uttarakhand. It is an endemic shrub species which is critically endangered. In the absence of sufficient natural regeneration and conservation measures it can be extinct from the existing forests. So the objective of the present investigation was to develop and standardize nursery techniques of Meizotropis pellita through seed and vegetative method. Therefore an experiment of seed sowing was carried out in different places (mist chamber, shade net, open beds), different mediums (sand, sand + compost, soil + compost) with pre sowing water treatments (normal water soaking for 12 hours, hot water soaking for 12 hours) and control. The results indicated that maximum 87 % seed germination was observed after normal water soaking for 12 hours in sand + compost medium in shade net followed by 82 % after normal water soaking for 12 hours in sand under shade net and 80 % after hot water soaking for 12 hours in sand under mist chamber. Vegetative propagation was conducted by root suckers observed 16% sprouting with soil medium in open beds.