Propagation of Antidesma alexiteria and Syzygium caryophyllatum, two underexploited fruit plants in Sri Lanka: Effect of cutting types, potting media and auxin application

Antidesma alexiteria and Syzygium caryophyllatum are two fruit species found in Sri Lanka of which the commercial development potential has not been fully identified. To bring these back into cultivation, establishment suitable propagation systems for mass is important. Therefore, this research was designed to identify potting media, stem cutting types requirement auxin successful vegetative species. Softwood, semi-hardwood hardwood cuttings trees were planted three media (M1 – topsoil, sand 1:1, M2 sand, compost 1:1:1 M3 coir dust 1:1:1) under treatments; T1 with plant growth reg­ulator indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) T0 controls without IAA. Each treatment conducted 15 replicates. The individual propagators kept a net house 50% shading room temperature. Growth performance monitored regular intervals (every 28 days) period six months. According sprouting, survival, performance, both softwood A. alexiteria. medium showed 100% sprouting survival but respect overall M1 most softwoods auxin. Sprouting high values parameters treatment. can be recommended better while M3with semi-hardwoods Softwoods, hardwoods S. medium. Both expressed higher percentages have shown highest performance. Hence, con­sidered as best planting material caryophyllatumwhile through method purpose commercialization.