Clonal propagation of Pelargonium sidoides: a threatened medicinal plant of South Africa.

Abstract

Pelargonium sidoides is used in herbal medicine for the
\ntreatment of various infections. Apart from the local uses, the roots
\nare being indiscriminately harvested for local and export trade. A
\nstudy was conducted to determine the appropriate plant part and the
\nminimum vine length suitable for the clonal propagation of P. sidoides
\nin two separate experiments. In the first experiment, three vine tip
\ncuttings (2, 4 and 6 cm) of the species were rooted in potted
\nexperiment in a green house. In the second experiment, ten days old
\npetioles were excised from their mother plants and rooted along side 6
\ncm vines length to assess suitable plant part for vegetative
\npropagation of the species. Data were collected and analyzed on various
\ngrowth and development indices. In the first experiment, the 6 cm vine
\nlength exhibited best result for different parameters measured.
\nPetioles gave significant yield difference over 6 cm vine length and
\ngenerally showed high potential for vegetative propagation in terms of
\nrooting ability and survival rate. The importance of these findings on
\nthe propagation and conservation of P. sidoides is discussed.