EFFECTS OF LIGHT ON THE GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF EDIBLE SHOOTS OF RATTAN

Studies on three species of edible rattan occurring in the Western Ghats, Calamus thwaitesii C. hookerianus and G. metzianus, under different light conditions showed that light intensity had effects on survival percentage, growth and number of shoots produced. In C hookerianus, maximum survival was obtained under 75% light while in C thwaitesii and C metzianus, under 50%. The number of shoots produced was greater under 50% light in all the species. Light and period greatly affected the percentage survival of C. hookerianus. The effects of light intensities on height growth and number of shoots produced in C hookerianus and C thwaitesii were considerable, while those in C metzianus, negligible. In an agroforestry system of the three species studied, C. metzianus is best suited for shoot production since it performs well under 100, 75 and 50% light. Tiga spesies rotan boleh dimakan yang tumbuh di Ghat Barat iaitu Calamus thwaitesii,C hookerianus dan C metzianus ditanam di bawah keadaan cahaya berbeza-beza. Keamatan cahaya mempengaruhi peratusan kemandirian, pertumbuhan dan bilangan pucuk yang dihasilkan. Kemandirian adalah maksimum untuk C. hookerianus apabila cahayanya 75%, manakala untuk C. thwaitesii dan C. metzianus, 50%. Ketiga-tiga spesies menghasilkan pucuk yang banyak apabila cahayanya 50%. Keamatan cahaya dan tempohnya sangat mempengaruhi peratusan kemandirian C hookerianus. Keamatan cahaya mempengaruhi pertumbuhan ketinggian dan bilangan pucuk dalam C. hookerianus dan C. thwaitesii tetapi kesannya sedikit sahaja pada C. metzianus. Dalam sistem agroperhutanan bagi ketiga-tiga spesies ini, metzianus amat sesuai bagi penghasilan pucuk memandangkan spesies ini menunjukkan prestasi baik di bawah keamatan cahaya 100%, 75% dan 50%.