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Aftab Ahmed, Suhail Shabir, Mubashir Ahmad Mir, Mohsin Bashir, Arzan Nazir and Amarjeet Singh*
Division of Forest Products and Utilization, Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K, India
Email: amerjeetskuast@gmail.com
Received-27.03.2026, Revised-14.04.2026, Accepted-27.04.2026
Abstract: Valeriana jatamansi Jones, commonly known as Indian Valerian, is a critically endangered medicinal herb in the Himalayan region due to habitat loss and the overexploitation of its aromatic rhizomes for pharmaceutical use. Traditional propagation methods via seeds and rhizome division are often inefficient, characterized by poor viability and germination rates having slow growth cycle. To address this, a study was conducted at the SKUAST-K Faculty of Forestry using a hydroponic-style system with apical cuttings treated with Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) at various concentrations. The methodology involved maintaining cuttings in transparent glass beakers filled with distilled water, which was changed every two days to ensure proper oxygenation and hygiene. The research findings demonstrated that a low-concentration auxin treatment of 50 ppm NAA for a 30-minute duration (T1D1) was the most effective protocol, achieving a 100% rooting success rate. This treatment produced significantly superior results across all quantitative parameters, including an average of five roots per cutting and the average root diameter of 0.271 cm. In contrast, higher concentrations of 100 ppm and 150 ppm led to physiological stress, resulting in leaf chlorosis, tissue necrosis, and a sharp decline in rooting success. This simple and reliable vegetative propagation technique offers a scalable solution for producing high-quality, uniform planting material, supporting the urgent need for the conservation and sustainable cultivation of this endangered species.
Keywords: Valeriana jatamansi, Stem cuttings, NAA, Rooting, Medicinal Plants, Kashmir
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