J.

(9)Env. Bio-Sci., 2016: Vol. 30 (1):9-12 ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

GROWTH PATTERN OF BAMBUSA SPP. AND CARBON ESTIMATION OF

MICROPROPAGATED DENDROCALAMUS ASPER (SCHULT.) BACKER,
IN THE MID HIMALAYAN REGION
Anjuli Agarwal* and J. P. Purwar
GBPUA & T Agriculture Research Station, Majhera Garampani (Nainital) 263 135 India
[Corresponding Author E- mail*: anjulit@ rediffmail.com]

Received: 27-12-2015 Accepted: 06-05-2016

Bambusa and Dendrocalamus are two important genera of bamboos having many species and with wide occurrence in nature in
Asia including Indian sub continent. Conventionally, bamboos are propagated through seeds or by vegetative methods but
micropropagation is a biotechnological technique for rapid and large scale propagation. Besides multiple uses, bamboos are
important carbon sinks and accumulate biomass quickly. Growth pattern of Bambusa spp. viz. Bambusa nutans, B. balcooa, B.
bambos and B. tulda along with Dendrocalamus asper was monitored in the mid Himalayan region of India. Carbon estimation in
various parts of young micropropagated plants of D. asper was also done. Per cent increase in height was highest in B. balcooa
from the time of plantation followed by B. bambos and B. nutans. However, B. tulda showed highest percent increase in the number
of culms. Leaf area index was directly proportionate with the growth data of Bambusa spp. The results of carbon estimation
indicated that carbon content in twigs was more than fifty per cent whereas in leaves and roots it was  50 % in all the three plant
height groups (0-20, 21-50, 51-100cm).

Bamboos occur with a wide range of about 70 genera and
more than 1000 species in tropical, subtropical and temperate
regions in the world1. Bamboos are the most important non-
timber forest products that provide livelihood for millions of
people around the world. Among various bamboos, genus
Bambusa is mostly distributed in North East, Orissa, West
Bengal and Uttarakhand regions of India. Bambusa balcooa
and B. tulda are recognized as priority species by FAO (www.
Unepwcmc.org, www.inbar.int), are also the two most
commonly available species of West Bengal2. B. balcooa is a
preferred bamboo used in construction and B. tulda in the
production of quality paper due to having long fibres. B. nutans
is considered a rugged bamboo and able to tolerate dry
conditions and stony soil. It grows best at altitudes between
500-1500 m. B. bambos have thorny branches and grows
densely in moist deciduous forest up to an altitude of 1000 m.
It is common in central and South India. Dendrocalamus is a
tropical genus of giant clump forming bamboos having about
83 species in whole of Southeast Asia including Indian sub
continent. Dendrocalamus asper, native of China is an important
species which provides food, fiber and structural timber. The
young shoots of D. asper are used as food in many countries3.
Besides the multiple uses and versatile role of bamboos for
mankind, bamboos are excellent carbon sinks. Role of
bamboos in ecological functions, such as soil and water
conservation is also of great importance4-5.
Traditionally, bamboos are propagated through seeds or by
vegetative methods such as rhizome, culm cuttings and branch
cuttings. But conventional methods of propagation having many
limitations are not adequate to meet out the demand and supply
of planting material. Thus, through micropropagation large
number of plants can be produced. For micropropagation of
D. asper, several reports are available 3,6-7, but for field
performance of micropropagated D. asper as far as growth
pattern is concerned limited reports are available. However,
carbon sequestration potential of D. asper has been reported
in the mid himalayan region8-10.
Therefore, the present study was performed to analyze the
growth pattern in terms of culm dynamics and leaf area index
in subsequent years after field plantation. Estimation of carbon
in young micropropagated plants of D. asper was also done to
understand the distribution in various parts like twigs, leaves
and roots.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study was conducted at Agriculture Research Station,
Majhera, Nainital Uttarakhand. Altitude, latitude and longitude

NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20

 GROWTH PATTERN OF BAMBUSA SPP. AND CARBON ESTIMATION (10)

Table-1.Growth data of various bamboo species in two years

Table-2. Per cent carbon content in various parts of micropropagated D. asper plants.

Table-3. Per cent correlation between height and dry weight of various parts of micropropagated
D. asper plants

*- (P  0.05), **- (P  0.01) NS- Not significant

Figure-1. Height Pattern of various Bambusa spp. and Figure-2. Culm pattern of various Bambusa spp. and
D. asper D. asper
 (11) AGARWAL AND PURWAR
Figure-3. Leaf Area Index of various Bambusa spp.
and D. asper.
of the study site are 905m (a.s.l), 29°30.137', and 79°28.784'
respectively. Average maximum & minimum temperature and
maximum relative humidity were 32.1°C, 4.83°C and 97.67
per cent, respectively. The present study was performed for
two consecutive years one year after the establishment of
plantation.
 Plants of D. asper were produced through micropropagation
using established culture and protocol6. Micropropagated
plants of D.asper after hardening were maintained in the poly
bags. Plants were categorized in to three height groups of 0-
20cm, 21-50cm and 51-100cm. For carbon estimation in twigs,
leaves, and roots ten plants in each group were randomly
selected. Fresh weight of the whole plant and dry weight (after
oven drying at 70°C for 72h) of twigs, leaves and roots was
recorded. Estimation of per cent carbon was done by Soil
Testing Laboratory (Uttarakhand Tea Development Board),
Bhowali, Nainital, UK, India. Data on growth parameters was
recorded one year after the plantation of Bambusa nutans, B.
balcooa, B. tulda and B. bambos and micropropated D. asper.
Recommended agronomical practices were followed for the
bamboo plantation. Height of the plants at the time of plantation
was 100 - 150 cm. Plantation was done at ARS, Majhera on a
hill slope at a distance of 5 X 5 m in an area of 0.2 ha. Length
and number of culms was recorded every month for two
consecutive years. Data on Leaf Area Index (LAI) was also
recorded using Plant Canopy Analyzer CI-110-24 PLB (CID,
Inc, USA) in the last 15 months of study period.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Growth parameters of various species of Bambusa and
micropropagated D. asper revealed that B. nutans attained
maximum height of 6.62 m followed by B. balcooa (6.44 m)
and B. bambos (4.12 m). Sharp increase in height was observed
in the month of September in all the four species (Fig.-1) except
in B. tulda. However, per cent increase in height (Table-1) was
highest in B. balcooa (547.0) from the time of plantation
followed by B. bambos (463.9) and B. nutans (325.5). D. asper
showed an increasing trend in the number of culms but B.
bambos and B. balcooa did not show production of new culms
in the consecutive years (Fig.-2). Though, B. tulda attained
only 1.83 m height which was only 281.2 per cent increase
after two years of plantation but percent increase in the number
of culms was maximum (394.7). Photosynthesis phenomenon
in plants adapts to the environmental conditions and sensitivity of
photosynthesis to stress factors varies among plant species11-14.
Any limiting factor of photosynthetic efficiency may reduce
the species productivity, and therefore, ability to compete in
that particular habitat15-17.
The overall results of the present study underline significant
differences in the growth pattern of various bamboo species.
Leaf area index monitored for various bamboo species (Fig.-3)
also showed coherence with culm dynamics and henceforth,
the photosynthetic efficiency. LAI is used to predict
photosynthetic primary production as a reference tool for crop
growth. B. nutans which attained the maximum height also
showed a sharp gain of LAI from July to September in the 2nd
year of monitoring. LAI of B. tulda was less than B. nutans but
did not show a sharp fall after September as was the case
with B. nutans resulting in highest per cent increase in number
of culms. LAI of B. balcooa showed neither sharp gain nor
sharp fall resulting in highest per cent increase in height.
However, D. asper showed increasing trend in LAI from July to
September as was the case with other species too, but no fall
in LAI was recorded up to the month of January.
Growth and biomass production are also affected by changes
of air temperature acting with other limiting factors;
photosynthesis provides an indicator for functional limitations
imposed by environmental factors1,12-13,18. Air temperature plays
 GROWTH PATTERN OF BAMBUSA SPP. AND CARBON ESTIMATION
very important role in controlling the magnitude of the
photosynthetic response as a result despite maintaining the 2.
leaf canopy for a longer duration D. asper could not gain as 3.
much height as B. nutans19.
4.
The data on carbon estimation in twigs, leaves and roots of 5.
micropropagated D. asper is presented in Table-2. The results
indicated that carbon content in twigs was more than fifty per 6.
cent whereas in leaves and roots it was  50 % in all the 7.
three plant groups. Per cent carbon ranged highest in twigs
8.
(51.7-53.9) , whereas, lowest in roots (42.9-50.3). There was
no difference in the pattern of carbon content in various parts
9.
of D. asper in all the three height ranges. Correlation study
was also done between plant height and dry weight of various
10.
parts (Table-3). Correlation coefficient indicated positive
correlation in all the groups except in case of leaf in the height 11.
group of 51 - 100 cm. Maximum significant positive correlation
was recorded in leaf with 0-20 cm height range (r=0.825**) 12.
while minimum positive correlation was in root with 21-50 cm
height range group (r=0.613ns). Similarly, in the various studies 13.
performed to estimate the carbon sequestration in plantations,
fifty per cent of dry weight is considered as carbon
sequestered8-10,20.
14.
The present study concluded that as per the climatic 15.
conditions of the study area, B. nutans and B. balcooa are
more appropriate bamboo species to be taken up for cultivation 16.
or as carbon sinks.
17.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
18.
Authors are thankful to Department of Science & Technology,
19.
Govt. of India, New Delhi, India for financial assistance and
Director Experiment Station, Govind Ballabh Pant University
of Ag. & Tech, Pantnagar, India for providing the necessary
facilities. 20.
REFERENCES
1. Gratani, L., Crescente, M.F., Varone,L., Fabrini,G. and Digiulio E.
(12)
(2008). Flora. 203: 77.
Das, M. and Pal, A. (2005). J. Plant Biochem. & Biotech. 14: 185.
Singh, S.R., Dalal, S., Singh, R., Dhawan, A.K. and Kalia, P.K.
(2012). J. Plant Biochem. & Biotech. 21 (2): 220.
Kleinhenz, V. and Midmore, D.J. (2001). Adv. Agric. 74: 99.
Nandy, S., Das, A.K. and Das, G. (2004). J. Bamboo Rattan. 3:
27.
Arya, I.D. and Arya, S. (1997). Indian J. Exp. Biol. 35: 1252.
Arya, S., Sharma, S., Kaur, R. and Arya, I D. (1999). Plant Cell
Rep. 18: 879.
Agarwal, A. and Purwar, J.P. (2009). In: Proceedings of VIII
World Bamboo Congress. 4: 91.
Agarwal, A. and Purwar, J.P. (2012). In: Proceedings of IX
World Bamboo Congress. 142.
Agarwal, A. and Purwar, J.P. (2015). In: Proceedings of X World
Bamboo Congress.
Boyer, J. S. (1976). Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. B. 273:
501.
Gratani, L., Pesoli, P., Crescente, M.F., Aichner, K. and Larcher,
W. (2000). Global Planet Change. 24: 153.
Larcher, W. (1994). Photosynthesis as a tool for indicating
temperature stress events. In: Schulze, E. D., Caldwell, M. M.
(Eds.), Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis. Ecological Studies,
vol. 100. Springer, Berlin. 261.
Larcher, W. (2000). Plant Biosyst. 134: 279.
Crescente, M.F., Gratini, L. and Larcher, W. (2002). Flora. 197:
2.
Gratani, L., Meneghini, M., Pesoli, P. and Crescente, M.F. (2000).
Trees. 17: 515.
Groom, Q.J., Baker, N.R. and Long, S.P. (1991). Physiol. Plant.
83: 585.
Gratani, L. and Varone, L. (2004). Flora. 199: 58.
Harley, P.C. (1995). Modelling leaf level effects of elevated CO2
on Mediterranean sclerophylls. In: Moreno, J. M., Oechel, W. C.
(Eds.), Global change and Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems.
Ecological Studies, vol. 117. Springer, New York. 35.
Scurlock, J.M.O., Dayton, D.C. and Hames, B. (2000). Biomass
and Bioenergy, 19 (4): 229.