Abstract:
Brinial (Solanum melongena L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are vital
vegetable crops within the Solanaceae family, extensively cultivated in Sri Lanka due
to their economic significance and nutritional value. Traditional propagation methods,
such as stem cuttings, often face challenges like low success rates and I'ulnerability to
diseases, necessitating effective solutions for robust root development. This study aims
to formulate a natural rooting hormone using Aloe Vera, Cinnamon, and Honey to
enhance rooting in brinjal and tomato stem cuttings. These natural substances, known
for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, are an eco-friendly alternative
to synthetic hormones. The research focuses on stimulating root growth and evaluating
the morphological parameters of roots in treated cuttings. The experiment was carried
out from March 2024 to June 2024 at the Faculty of Technology, Eastern University,
Sri Lanka, using a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with eight treatments and four
replicates. The treatments were T0 (Water), T1 (10 ml of Aloe Vera gel), T2 (10 g of
cinnamon powder), T3 (10 ml of Honey), T4 (10 ml of Aloe Vera gel + 10 g of
Cinnamon powder), T5 (10 ml of Aloe Vera gel + 10 ml of Honey), T6 (10 g of
Cinnamon powder + 10 ml of Honey), andTT (10 ml of Aloe Vera gel + 10 g of
Cinnamon powder + 10 ml of Honey). Analysis of variance was performed to determine
significant differences among treatments (p<0.05). Brinjal plants provided with T7
showed superior performance in growth parameters, including the number of leaves,
plant height, number of roots, root length, and dry weight of roots. The lowest growth
parameters were observed in T3 and T5. Similarly, tomato plants treated with T7
performed well in terms of the number of leaves, plant height, number of roots, root
length, and dry weight of roots, while the lowest growth parameters were observed in
T2 and T5. By addressing propagation challenges and promoting sustainable
agricultural practices, this natural hormone in the composition of 10 ml of Aloe Vera
gel + 10 g of Cinnamon powder + 10 ml of Honey, holds promise for improving brinjal
and tomato growth and yield
