Plantlets, obtained via different propagation methods were
established in the field to compare their field performance in
order to identify the best method of propagation. Bamboo
de novo shoot (culm) development in micropropagated plants
was detected within six months in comparison with
6–8 months in culm-regenerated or rhizome-derived plants. It
was observed for two consecutive years in the present study
that in case of plantlets originated from in vitro culture, the
plant height, the shoot (culm) number per plant, circumference
of the main culm (at the second internode), and length of the
internode were significantly higher than those of the plants
derived from the other two propagation methods (Table 4
and Fig. 4), which corroborates the former statement of
Mascarenhas et al. (1989) in Dendrocalamus strictus, another
important bamboo species. However, there was no flowering
recorded, since bamboo rarely flowers, occasionally following
an interval of 12–120 years. Plants obtained by the way of
splitting of rhizome, showed severe lodging and once lodged
in the field the plant growth stunted in some instances. Uniformity
in plants derived from in vitro propagation was higher
than the others especially during juvenile stage. Presumably,
this can attribute to diversity among propagules during
in vivo propagation compared with the single micropropagated
clone (Gupta et al., 1991). During field trial, plants propagated
via culm cutting or rhizome-splitting (other than in vitro culture)
grew significantly slower which might be attributed to
the fact that saplings derived through any extended propagation
system grew in a slow pace, similarly (McCown and
McCown, 1987).
The methods of propagation described in the current study
are simple in comparison with the methods stated by earlier
reports. Furthermore, in no case the performance of the plants,
produced through in vivo or in vitro approach, in field was
reported earlier. Also, a comparative study as stated in this
article provides the opportunity to select proper methodology
of propagation and subsequent large-scale field trials.