ORNAMENTAL AQUATIC PLANTS & ITS PRODUCTION

ORNAMENTAL AQUATIC PLANTS & ITS PRODUCTION


Contents :
  Introduction
  Types of aquarium plants
  Method  of culture
  Plant propagation
  Types of propagation
  Importance of aquarium plants
  Conclusion
Introduction
       Aquarium plants are used to give the aquarium a natural appearance, oxygenate the water and provide habitat for fish.
       Provide decorative addition to aquarium and play an important part in maintaining the correct environment for fish to thrive.
  Some aquarium fish also eat live plants.
Types of Aquarium Plants
  There are three main types of plants that can be used in an aquarium-
  Rooted plants
  Bunch plants
  Floating plants
  1. Rooted plants-
  These are the plants that can be used in an aquarium for background.
   They usually grow from 8-12 inches tall.
  Propagation is with the help of roots.
     Ex:-  Vallisneria spirilis, Echinodorus paniculatus, Aponogenton echinatus, Hydrilla verticillata, Sagttaria sublata.

2. Bunch Plants-
  Bunch plants get their names from the way they are planted, in groups or bunches.
  They grow rapidly and need lots of light. Bunch plants can be used in an aquarium equivalent of middle ground plants.
  Ex:- Comba aquatica, Camboma caroliana, Egeria densa

3. Floating Plants
  Floating plants take root in water, but don’t need to be anchored to the gravel. It needs only a source of light. The more light, the faster they grow.
Ex:- Azolla caroliana, Ceratophyllum demersum, Pistia stratiotes

Method of Culture
  Propagation of aquarium plants is recognized as one of the power full & growing  industries in the aquarium trade in many parts of the world.
  There are several producers of aquarium plants in many parts of the world.
  In Singapore ornamental aquatic plant growing is a major industry & the produce is being exported to all parts of the world.
  In India aquarium plant propagation is  new to entrepreneurs & due to lack of expertise & demand , aquatic plant growing enterprise has not reached the expected
Plant Propagation
v  Basically there are three types of plant  propagation method used all over the world.
  1. Vegetative propagation
  2. Sexual propagation
  3. Tissue culture
v   The first two means of propagation are well known and most widely used in aquarium plant trade, they are cheap and fairly successful with most plant.
Vegetative Propagation
  This is the most widely used  method and  normally easiest & cheapest.
  In this method plants are propagated by using part of the plant itself either through a stem cutting or other parts of the plant from where a new plants is grown.
  Ex. Rotala nomaphilla, R. rotundifolia, R.mocranda, linopbila aquatica, l. beterophylla
Sexual Propagation
  This is traditional mean of propagation.
  This is used when a new plant is grown from a seed or spore.
  Ex. Samolus valeradi (water cabbage)
Tissue culture
  In this method, plants are propagated in a sterile environment using part of the plant like meristematic region.
  Tissue cultured plants are Disease Free.
They have a shelf life of up to a month or longer.
Importance of Aquarium Plants
       During the daytime they use sunlight and absorb carbon dioxide produced by the fish for photosynthesis & produce oxygen.
Play a major part in the breakdown of the waste products produced by fish by acting as natural filters to keep the aquarium environment healthy.
  It clean the water by absorbing waste materials introduced by the fish and the fish food.
  Healthy plants give off small amounts of oxygen in their root area which prevents the bottom from decaying.
Conclusion
  It provide the aquarium fishes a natural appearance and also provide habitat to fishes.
  Play the role as food for some fishes as some fishes eat live plants.
  Oxygenate aquarium water by producing oxygen through absorption of carbon dioxide.

  Prevent aquarium water to become toxic by absorbing waste materials introduced by the fish and the fish food.

For More information watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjDKzqzRsB4


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