Propagation Protocols for Enhancing Conservation and Utilization of Melia dubia Cav.

India's annual imports of logs and wood products have increased from $500 million to $2.7 billion over the past decade. Many tree species have been taken up for the promotion of tree cultivation outside the forest areas; one of them is Melia dubia Cav. (Meliaceae). It is a multipurpose tree species, finding use as a raw material for plywood, fodder for livestock, and a secondary timber. Large-scale planting is hampered by poor seed (less than 10%) germination despite producing abundant quantities of fruits every year; lack of package of practices thereby making planting stock unavailable. A research study was carried out at the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding in Coimbatore, India to investigate seed germination and rooting of cuttings. Seeds were subjected to different pretreatments against control. Seeds stored in polybags under ambient conditions for over a year gave the highest germination (94.01 per cent). Juvenile stem cuttings (coppice), branchlets and mature branches of M. dubia were tried for rooting/sprouting. Coppice responded well to 1000–2000 mg/l IBA (liquid formulation). Sand was identified as the best rooting media for the multiplication of coppice. The stumps produced good coppice when cut at 120 cm above ground level with high survival percentage (60%) and increased sprout production. The size of the cutting and season of rooting plays a major role in the rooting of cuttings. Success in nursery production through vegetative production will open an opportunity to successful large scale plantations of M. dubia.