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VetiverPropagation

THEVETIVERSYSTEM

VETIVERGRASSPLANTPROPAGATION
ThisinformationisabstractedfromVetiverSystemsApplicationATechnicalReferenceManual.AuthorsPaul
Truong,TranTanVan,andElisePinners.Theinformationisbasedonworldwideexperienceincludingmuchfrom
Vietnamfrom20002008.

CONTENTS
1.INTRODUCTION
2VETIVERNURSERY
3.METHODSOFPROPAGATION
3.1Splittingmatureplantstoproducebarerootslips
3.2Propagatingvetiverfromplantparts
3.3Budmultiplicationormicropropagation
3.4Tissueculture
4.PREPARINGPLANTINGMATERIAL
4.1Polybagsortubestock
4.2Plantingstrip
5.NURSERIESINVIETNAM
6.REFERENCES
7.LINKS

1.INTRODUCTION
Sincemostmajorapplicationsrequirealargenumberofplants,thequalityoftheplantingmaterialisimportantfor
thesuccessfulapplicationoftheVetiverSystem(VS).Thisrequiresnurseriescapableofproducinglargequantitiesof
highquality,lowcostplantmaterials.Theexclusiveuseofonlysterilevetivercultivars(C.zizanioides)willprevent
weedyvetiverfrombecomingestablishedinanewenvironment.DNAtestsprovethatthesterilevetivercultivar
usedaroundtheworldisgeneticallysimilartoSunshineandMontocultivars,bothofwhichoriginateinsouthern
India.Givenitssterility,thisvetivermustbepropagatedvegetatively.

2.VETIVERNURSERY
Nurseriesprovidestockmaterialsforvegetativeandtissueculturepropagationofvetiver.Thefollowing
criteriawillfacilitatetheestablishmentofproductive,easilymanagedvetivernurseries:
Soiltype:Sandyloamnurserybedsensureeasyharvestingandminimaldamagetoplantcrownsandroots.
Althoughclayloamisacceptable,heavyclayisnot.
Topography:Slightlyslopinglandavoidswaterloggingincaseofoverwatering.Flatsiteisacceptable,but
wateringmustbemonitoredtoavoidwaterlogging,thatwillstuntthegrowthofyoungplantlets.Mature
vetiver,however,thrivesunderwaterloggedconditions.
Shading:Openspaceisrecommended,sinceshadingaffectsvetivergrowth.Partiallyshadedareasare
acceptable.VetiverisaC4plantandlikesplentyofsun.
Plantinglayout:Vetivershouldbeplantedinlong,neatrowsacrosstheslopeforeasymechanicalharvesting.
Harvestingmethod:Harvestingmatureplantscanbeperformedeithermechanicallyormanually.Amachine
shoulduprootthematurestock2025cm(810)lowerground.Toavoiddamagingtheplantcrownusea
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singleblademouldboardploughoradiscploughwithspecialadjustment.
Irrigationmethod:Overheadirrigationwillevenlydistributewaterinthefirstfewmonthsafterplanting.More
matureplantswelcomefloodirrigation.
Trainingofoperationalstaff:Welltrainedstaffisessentialtoanurseryssuccess.
Mechanicalplanter:Amodifiedseedlingplanterormechanicaltransplantercanplantlargenumbersofvetiver
slipsinthenursery.
Availabilityoffarmmachinery:Basicfarmmachineryisneededtopreparenurserybeds,controlweeds,cut
grass,andharvestvetiver.

Photo1:Upper:Machineplantinglower:manualplanting.

3.METHODSOFPROPAGATION
Thefourcommonwaystopropagatevetiverare:
1.Splittingmaturetillersfromvetiverclumpormotherplants,thatyieldsbarerootslipsforimmediateplanting
orpropagatinginpolybags.
2.Usingvariouspartsofamothervetiverplant.
3.Budmultiplicationorinvitromicropropagationforlargescalepropagation
4.Tissueculture,usingasmallpartoftheplanttopropagateonalargescale.
3.1Splittingmatureplantstoproducebarerootslips
Splittingtillersfromamotherclumprequirescare,sothateachslipincludesatleasttwotothreetillers(shoots)and
apartofthecrown.Afterseparation,theslipsshouldbecutbackto20cm(8)length(Figure1).Theresultingbare
rootslipscanbedippedinvarioustreatments,includingrootinghormones,manureslurry(coworhorsetea),clay
mud,orsimpleshallowwaterpools,untilnewrootsappear.Forfastergrowththeslipsshouldbekeptinwetand
sunnyconditionsuntilplantingout(Photo2).

Figure1:Howtosplitvetiverslips.
3.2Propagatingvetiverfromplantparts
Threepartsofthevetiverplantareusedforpropagation(Photos3&4):
Tillersorshoots
Crown(corm),thehardpartoftheplantbetweentheshootsandtheroots
Culms.
Aculmisthestemorstalkofagrass.Thevetiverculmissolid,stiff,andhardithasprominentnodeswithlateral
budsthatcanformrootsandshootswhenexposedtomoistconditions.Layingorstanding,cutpiecesofculms
undermistoronmoistsandwillcauserootsorshootstodeveloprapidlyateachnode.LeVanDu,AgroForestry
University,HoChiMinhCity,developedthefollowingfourstepmethodofpropagatingvetiverfromcuttings:
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Preparevetivercuttings.
Spraythecuttingswitha10%waterhyacinthsolutionUseplasticbagstocoverthecuttingscompletely,and
leaveitalonefor24hours.
Dipinclaymudormanureslurry,andplantinagoodbed.

Photo2:Barerootslipsreadyforplantingout(left)beingdippedinclaymudormanureslurry(cow
tea)(right).
3.2.1Preparingvetivercutting

Photo3:Oldtillers(left)andyoungtillers(right).
Vetiverculms:
Selectoldculms,thathavemorematurebudsandmorenodesthanyoungones.Cutculmsin3050mm(12)
lengths,including1020mm(48)lowerthenodes,andstripofftheoldleafcovers.Expectnewshootstoemerge
aboutoneweekafterplanting.
Vetivertillers:
Selectmaturetillerswithatleastthreeorfourwelldevelopedleaves.
Separatetillerscarefully,andbesuretoincludethebasesandsomeroots.

Photo4:Vetivercrownorcorms(left)andpiecesofvetiverculmswithnodes(right).
Vetivercrownorcorms:
Thecrown(corm)isthebaseofamaturevetiverplantfromwhichnewshootssprout.Useonlythetoppartofthe
maturecrown.
3.2.2Preparingwaterhyacinthsolution
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WaterHyacinthsolutioncontainsmanyhormonesandgrowthregulators,includinggibberellicacidandmanyIndol
Aceticcompounds(IAA).TopreparerootinghormonefromWaterHyacinth:
RemoveWaterHyacinthplantsfromlakesorcanals.
Putplantsinto20litreplasticbag,andtieitclosed.
Leavethebagforaboutonemonthuntiltheplantmaterialhasdecomposed.
Discardthesolidpartsandkeeponlythesolution.
Strainthesolutionandmaintaininacoolplaceuntiluse.

Photo5:Sprayingcuttingswith10%waterhyacinthsolution(left)andcovercuttingscompletelywith
plasticbags,andleavethemfor24hours(right).
3.2.3Treatmentandplanting
3.2.4Advantagesofusingbarerootslipsandculmslips
Advantages:
Efficient,economic,andaquickwaytopreparetheplantingmaterial.
Smallvolumeresultsinlowertransportationcost.
Easytoplantbyhand.
Largenumberscanbemechanicallyplantedinlargeareas.
Disadvantages:
1.Vulnerabletodryingandextremetemperatures.
2.Limitedonsitestoragetime.
3.Requiresplantinginmoistsoil.
4.Needsfrequentirrigationinthefirstfewweeks.
5.Recommendedforgoodnurserysiteswitheasyaccesstoirrigation.

Photo6:Plantwithmanure,inagoodnurserybed.
3.3Budmultiplicationormicropropagation
Dr.LeVanBeofCanThoUniversity,CanThoCity,Vietnamhasdevelopedaverypracticalandsimplemethodto
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multiplybuds(LVanBetal,2006).Hisprotocolconsistsoffourmicropropagationstages,allinliquidmedium:
Inducinglateralbuddevelopment.
Multiplyingnewshoots.
Promotingrootdevelopmentonnewshoots.
Promotinggrowthinshadehouseorglasshouse.
3.4Tissueculture
Tissuecultureisanotherwaytopropagatevetiverplantingmaterialsinquantity,usingspecialtissues(roottip,
youngflowerinflorescence,nodalbudtissues)ofthevetiverplant.Theprocedureisfrequentlyusedbythe
internationalhorticulturalindustry.Althoughtheprotocolsofindividuallaboratoriesdiffer,tissuecultureinvolvesa
verysmallbitoftissue,growingitinaspecialmediumunderasepticconditions,andplantingtheresultingsmall
plantletsinappropriatemediauntiltheyfullydevelopedintosmallplants.MoredetailsarefoundinTruong(2006).

4.PREPARINGPLANTINGMATERIAL
Toincreasetheestablishmentrateunderhostileconditions,whentheplantletsproducedbytheUppermethodsare
matureenoughorbarerootslipsareready,theycanbepreparedforplantingoutby:
polybagsortubestock.
plantingstrip.
4.1Polybagsortubestock
Plantletsandbarerootslipsareplantedinsmallpotsorsmallplasticbagscontaininghalfsoilandhalfpottingmix
andmaintainedinthecontainersforthreetosixweeks,dependingonthetemperature.Whenatleastthreenew
tillers(shoots)appear,theplantletsarereadytobeplanted.

Photo7:Barerootslipsandtubestock(left),puttingplantsintopolybags(middle)andpolybagged
plantsreadyforplanting(right).
4.2Plantingstrip
Plantingstripsareamodifiedformofpolybags.Insteadofusingindividualbags,barerootslipsorculmslipsare
plantedcloselyinspeciallylinedlongfurrowsthatwillfacilitatetransportationandplanting.Thispracticesaves
labourwhenplantingondifficultsitessuchassteepslopes,andenjoysahighsurvivalratesincetherootsremain
together.

Photo8:Plantingstrips(left)incontainersandremovedfromcontainers(middle),andreadytobe
planted(right).
4.2.1Advantagesanddisadvantagesofpolybagsandplantingstrips
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Advantages:
Plantsarehardyandunaffectedbyexposuretohightemperatureandlowmoisture.
Lowerirrigationfrequencyafterplanting.
Fasterestablishmentandgrowthafterplanting.
Canremainonsiteforlongerbeforebeingplanted.
Recommendedforharshandhostileconditions.
Disadvantages:
Moreexpensivetoproduce.
Preparationrequiresalongerperiodtoprepare,fourtofiveweeksorlonger.
Transportinglargevolumeandincreasedweightisexpensive.
Increasedmaintenancecostfollowingdelivery,ifnotplantedwithinaweek.
5.NURSERIESINVIETNAM
VetivernurserieshavebeensuccessfullyestablishedinallareasofVietnam.

Photo9:Inthesouth,left:CanThoUniversityright:AnGiangprovince.

Photo10:Inthecentresouth,inQuangNgai(left)andBinhPhuoc(right).

Photo11:Inthenorth,inBacNinh(left)andBacGiang(right).

6.REFERENCES
CharanasriU.,SumanochitrapanS.,andTopangteamS.(1996).Vetivergrass:Nurserydevelopment,
fieldplantingtechniques,andhedgemanagement.UnpublishedpaperpresentedatProc.First
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InternationalVetiverConf.,Thailand,48February1996.
LVnB,VThanhTn,NguynThTUyn.(2006).NhnGiongCoVetiver(Vetiveriazizanioides).
RegionalVetiverconference,CanThoUniversity,CanTho,Vietnam.
LVnB,VThanhTn,NguynThTUyn(2006).Lowcostmicropropagationofvetivergrass
Proc.FourthInternationalVetiverConference,Caracas,Venezuela,October2006.
MurashigeT.,andSkoogF.(1962)Arevisedmediumforrapidgrowthandbioassayswithtobacco
tissuecultures.PhysiologiaPlantarum15:473497.
NamwongpromK.,andNanakornM.(1992).Clonalpropagationofvetiverinvitro.In:Proc.30thAnn.
Conf.onAgric.,29Jan1Feb1992(inThailand).
SukkasemA.andChinnapanW.(1996).Tissuecultureofvetivergrass.In:Abstractsofpapers
presentedatProc.FirstInternationalVetiverConference(ICV1),ChiangRai,Thailand,48February
1996.p.61,ORDPB,Bangkok.
Truong,P.(2006).VetiverPropagation:NurseriesandLargeScalePropagation.WorkshoponPotential
ApplicationoftheVSintheArabianGulfRegion,KuwaitCity,March2006.

LINKS
Search

TheVetiverSystemPropagationandPlantingPhotoessay
TheVetiverSystemPropagationandPlanting(withcaptions)
Experimentinganddevelopingtechniquestospeedupvetivermultiplicationinnurseries.(Senegal)(180KB2/06/02)
HandBookonVetivergrasstechnologyFromPropagationtoutilisationForEthiopia(12/16/200075KB)
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andSELECTIONFORSALTTOLERANTCALLUSCLONES(468KB,04/06/04
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Plantregenerationfromcalluscultureofvetiver(VetiveriazizanioidesNash)(KB39110/26/03)
POTENTIALOFVETIVERGRASSTOPRODUCEFERTILESEEDWHENUSEDFORROADSIDESTABILISATIONINCOOKSHIRE(KB27
7/01/02)
Primaryandsecondarycentresoforiginofvetiveranditsdispersion.U.C.Lavinia(CP512)(KB18)
Propagation,Cultivation,andManagementofVetiverGrassConductedinChinainthel950's
PropagationmethodsfromVietnam(2.1MB06/23/06)
ResearchonMethodologiesforSelection,PropagationandCultivationTechniquesofVetiverGrassanditsApplicationinThailand.(3/26/01)
SPATIALVARIABILITYOFSOILUNDERVETIVERGRASSSTRIPS(KB234/22/03)
TechniquesofVetiverPropagationWithSpecialReferencetoThailand(includingimages)(664KB2/03/02)
Vetiver:FromNurserytotheProtectionofInfrastructures(KB45110/26/03)
Vetiver:FromNurserytotheProtectionofInfrastructures(KB45110/26/03)
VetiverPropagationMethodsinChina
Vetivergrasspot:productionanduse.VaruneeThiramongkolandBanyongBaebprasert(CP46)(KB16)
VETIVERPROPAGATIONNurseriesandLargeScalePropagation(125KB03/19/06)
VetiverSystemPropagationandNursery(944KB03/19/06)powerpoint

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