Leaf Flashing and Rooting Behavior of Two Bamboo Species Propagated by Branch-Cutting

Md. Rashel Khan^1*, Md. Shoaibur Rahman¹, Md. Shafiqul Bari¹   

This study demonstrated bamboo propagation techniques, enhancing sustainable cultivation for ecological preservation, economic development, and rural livelihoods.

Abstract

Background: Bamboo, a vital resource in Bangladesh, holds ecological, economic, and social significance. However, propagation through seeds is often hindered by challenges such as gregarious flowering and poor seed viability. To address these issues, vegetative propagation methods, specifically branch cuttings, are increasingly explored for sustainable bamboo cultivation. Methods: The study aimed to evaluate the propagation success of Bambusa balcooa (Borak) and Bambusa nutans (Makla) using branch cuttings. Branches were treated with varying concentrations of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) and node numbers (3, 4, 5). The experiment, conducted in a controlled nursery at the Bangladesh Rural Improvement Foundation, assessed key parameters: leaf sprouting, root initiation, survival rate, and growth characteristics. Additionally, a field survey was carried out to assess the distribution of bamboo species in Dinajpur district. Results: Branch cuttings with five nodes and a 0.2% IBA concentration in distilled water showed the highest success, achieving 100% rooting and leaf sprouting. Survival rates, root length, leaf size, and overall growth were significantly improved under this treatment. Lower IBA concentrations and different node counts resulted in poorer performance. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that optimized treatments, particularly branch cuttings with five nodes and 0.2% IBA, can enhance bamboo propagation, supporting sustainable bamboo cultivation in Bangladesh. These findings contribute to improving bamboo production techniques and promote environmental and economic benefits. Further research on field applicability is recommended.

Keywords: Bamboo propagation, Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA), Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa nutans,  Vegetative reproduction

References

Austin, A.T., & Marchesini, V.A. (2012). Gregarious flowering and death of understory bamboo slow litter decomposition and nitrogen turnover in a southern temperate forest in Patagonia, Argentina. Functional Ecology, 26(1), 265-273.

Bajracharya, M.S., Rajbhandary, S., & Das, A.N. (2012). Socio-economic impacts of bamboo enterprises in the Mid-hills of Nepal: A case study on Pahari community at Badikhel Village, Lalitpur. Banko Janakari, 22(2), 19-25.

Banik, R.L. (2008). Issues in production of bamboo planting materials-lessons and strategies. Indian Forester, 134(3), 291-304.

Ben-Zhi, Z., Mao-Yi, F., Jin-Zhong, X., Xiao-Sheng, Y., & Zheng-Cai, L. (2005). Ecological functions of bamboo forest: research and application. Journal of Forestry Research, 16(2), 143-147.

Bystriakova, N., & Stapleton, C. (2003). Bamboo biodiversity: Information for planning conservation and management in the Asia-Pacific region. UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series, 14.

Bystriakova, N., Kapos, V., & Lysenko, I. (2004). Bamboo biodiversity: Africa, Madagascar and the Americas (No. 19). UNEP/Earthprint.

Bystriakova, N., Kapos, V., Lysenko, I., & Stapleton, C.M.A. (2003). Distribution and conservation status of forest bamboo biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific Region. Biodiversity & Conservation, 12(9), 1833-1841.

Caccia, F.D., Chaneton, E.J., & Kitzberger, T. (2009). Direct and indirect effects of understorey bamboo shape tree regeneration niches in a mixed temperate forest. Oecologia, 161(4), 771-780.

Chauhan, O.P., Unni, L.E., Kallepalli, C., Pakalapati, S.R., & Batra, H.V. (2016). Bamboo shoots: Composition, nutritional value, therapeutic role and product development for value addition. International Journal of Food and Fermentation Technology, 6(1), 1.

Chuchón, J.E.C., Cárdenas, R.P., Durai, J., Long, T.T., & Li, Y. (2021). Ecosystem services and cost-benefit analysis of natural forests and mixed bamboo systems in Peru. INBAR Working Paper. Beijing: INBAR.

Das, S., & Saha, M. (2013). Preparation of carbon nanosphere from bamboo and its use in water purification. Current Trends in Technology and Science, 2, 174-177.

Dev, I., Ram, A., Ahlawat, S.P., Palsaniya, D.R., Singh, R., Dhyani, S.K., Kumar, N., Tewari, R.K., Singh, M., Babanna, S.K., & Newaj, R. (2020). Bamboo-based agroforestry system (Dendrocalamus strictus + sesame–chickpea) for enhancing productivity in semi-arid tropics of central India. Agroforestry Systems, 94(5), 1725-1739.

Effah, B., Boampong, E., Asibey, O., Pongo, N.A., & Nkrumah, A. (2014). Small and medium bamboo and rattan enterprises in economic empowerment in Kumasi: Perspectives of producers. Journal of Social Economics, 1(1), 11-21.

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. (2020). Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020: Main report [online]. Rome: FAO. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315184487-1.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Bamboo and Rattan Organization. (2018). Bamboo for land restoration. INBAR Policy Synthesis Report 4. Beijing: INBAR.

Franklin, D.C., & Bowman, D.M. (2004). A multi-scale biogeographical analysis of Bambusa arnhemica, a bamboo from monsoonal northern Australia. Journal of Biogeography, 31(8), 1335-1353.

Sharma, R., Wahono, J., & Baral, H. (2018). Bamboo as an alternative bioenergy crop and powerful ally for land restoration in Indonesia. Sustainability, 10(12), 4367. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124367

Sheil, D., Ducey, M., Ssali, F., Ngubwagye, J. M., Van Heist, M., & Ezuma, P. (2012). Bamboo for people, mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys: Evaluating harvest and conservation trade-offs and synergies in the Virunga Volcanoes. Forest Ecology and Management, 267, 163–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.11.035

Shen, M., Xie, Z., Jia, M., Li, A., Han, H., Wang, T., & Zhang, L. (2019). Effect of bamboo leaf extract on antioxidant status and cholesterol metabolism in broiler chickens. Animals, 9(9), 699. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9090699

Singh, S. R., Singh, R., Kalia, S., Dalal, S., Dhawan, A. K., & Kalia, R. K. (2013). Limitations, progress and prospects of application of biotechnological tools in improvement of bamboo—a plant with extraordinary qualities. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants, 19(1), 21–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-012-0143-2

Sofiah, S., Setiadi, D., & Widyatmoko, D. (2018). The influence of edaphic factors on bamboo population in Mount Baung Natural Tourist Park, Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia. International Journal of Tropical Drylands, 2(1), 12–17.

Sohel, M. S. I., Alamgir, M., Akhter, S., & Rahman, M. (2015). Carbon storage in a bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) plantation in the degraded tropical forests: Implications for policy development. Land Use Policy, 49, 142–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.08.001

Song, X., Zhou, G., Jiang, H., Yu, S., Fu, J., Li, W., Wang, W., Ma, Z., & Peng, C. (2011). Carbon sequestration by Chinese bamboo forests and their ecological benefits: Assessment of potential, problems, and future challenges. Environmental Reviews, 19, 418–428. https://doi.org/10.1139/a11-015

Sujarwo, W. (2018). Bamboo resources, cultural values, and ex-situ conservation in Bali, Indonesia. Reinwardtia, 17(1), 65–75. https://doi.org/10.14203/reinwardtia.v17i1.3318

Sun, J., Ren, J., Hu, X., Hou, Y., & Yang, Y. (2021). Therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicines and their extracts on diabetes. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 142, 111977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111977

Takahashi, M., Furusawa, H., Limtong, P., Sunanthapongsuk, V., Marod, D., & Panuthai, S. (2007). Soil nutrient status after bamboo flowering and death in a seasonal tropical forest in western Thailand. Ecological Research, 22(1), 160–164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-006-0019-8

Tardio, G., Mickovski, S. B., Rauch, H. P., Fernandes, J. P., & Acharya, M. S. (2018). The use of bamboo for erosion control and slope stabilization: Soil bioengineering works. Bamboo: Current and Future Prospects, 105.

Van der Lugt, P., ThangLong, T., & King, C. (2018). Carbon sequestration and carbon emissions reduction through bamboo forests and products.

Wang, Y., Chen, J., Wang, D., Ye, F., He, Y., Hu, Z., & Zhao, G. (2020). A systematic review on the composition, storage, processing of bamboo shoots: Focusing the nutritional and functional benefits. Journal of Functional Foods, 71, 104015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2020.104015

Yeasmin, L., Ali, M., Gantait, S., & Chakraborty, S. (2015). Bamboo: An overview on its genetic diversity and characterization. 3 Biotech, 5(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-014-0201-5

Yiping, L., & Henley, G. (2010). Biodiversity in bamboo forests: A policy perspective for long-term sustainability. Beijing: INBAR.

Zhao, M., Xiang, W., Peng, C., & Tian, D. (2009). Simulating age-related changes in carbon storage and allocation in a Chinese fir plantation growing in southern China using the 3-PG model. Forest Ecology and Management, 257(6), 1520–1531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2008.11.027

Zhou, G., Meng, C., Jiang, P., & Xu, Q. (2011). Review of carbon fixation in bamboo forests in China. The Botanical Review, 77(3), 262–270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-011-9066-2