The botanical name of Malligai is Jasminum sambac Ait.; it is a commercial flower of the family Oleaceae
Varieties: Single Mogra, Double Mogra, Iruvatchi, Ramanathapuram local etc.
Soil and climate: Well drained fertile soil.
Preparation and planting: Layers or rooted cuttings are planted with a spacing of 1.25 m either way to accommodate 6400 plants per ha during June to November in pits 30 x 30 x 30 cm. 20kg FYM per pit is applied before planting.
Irrigation: Irrigation should be given immediately after planting followed by weekly irrigation depending upon weather conditions.
Manuring: FYM 10 kg and NPK at 60:120:120 g per plant applied twice once after pruning and again during June - July.
Pruning: The bushes are pruned to 50 cm height from the ground level during last week of November.
Plant protection from Pests
Bud worm: Spray monocrotophos 36 WSC 2 ml/lit or profenofos 50 EC @ 1 ml/lit.
Blossom midge: Spray monocrotophos 36 WSC 2 ml/lit or endosulfan 35 EC 2 ml/lit.
Red spider mite: Spray sulphur 50 WP @ 2 g/lit or dicofol 18.5 @ EC 2.5 ml/lit.
Protection from Diseases
Yellowing of leaves: It is caused by 3 factors viz., iron deficiency, nematode infection and root rot disease.
Iron deficiency: Spray Ferrous sulphate 5 g/lit at monthly intervals until the chlorotic symptoms disappear.
Nematode: Test the soil for nematode infection. Apply 10 g of Phorate granules near root zone
and irrigate.
Root rot: Drench the soil around the plant with Copper oxychloride at 2.5 g/lit.
Season of flowering and harvest: Flowering commences in March - April. Fully developed unopened flower buds should be picked in the mornings.
Yield: 8750 kg of flower buds/ha.
