The genus Cinnamomum

Camphor Tree 215
succession species (Singh and Negi, 1997). However, it has been shown that unshaded
trees have higher essential oil content. Trees growing in the shade and even shaded
leaves of a specific tree usually have lower essential oil and camphor contents. For
cultivation, fertile and well drained sandy loam is most suitable. Soil type also effects
essential oil content and its composition. Trees grown on lighter soils tend to have
higher essential oil contents. Neutral or slightly alkaline soils are preferred for plantations
(Windadri and Rahayu, 1999).
Propagation of camphor tree is through seed, though vegetative propagation by
shoot or root cuttings and root suckers is also possible. Cuttings from trees rich in
camphor, however, are difficult to root (Burkill, 1935). Seeds from later crops are
used for sowing. The viability of seeds is rather short, and the germination rate is
low. Fresh seeds freed of pulp should be air-dried for four to five days and sown in
nursery beds of light, sandy loam soil enriched with manure. Germination takes three
to four weeks. In parts of China where the winter is cold, seeds are kept until the
following spring. Cleaning and soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours improves and
hastens germination. Seedlings are ready for transplanting to field after 12–24 months.
Before transplanting, seedling plants are pulled out with the onset of the rainy season,
and the plants are cutback to 5–10 cm. In India, root pruning is also practiced and
planting density is 2000–2500 trees per ha. When the trees are grown for leaf oil the
chemotype of the planting material is checked (usually the farmers crush and smell
the leaf). Micropropagation protocols have been developed for the multiplication of
camphor trees (Nirmal Babu et al., 1997, 2003; Huang et al., 1998) (Fig. 9.3).
Figure 9.3 Micropropagation of camphor tree.