Vegetative propagation of <i>Adansonia digitata</i> (L.) using juvenile stem cuttings, various rooting media and hormone concentrations

Abstract

Adansonia digitata is an important economic tree species which provides varieties of goods and services but despite this importance, the species is threatened with extinction due to its inability to regenerate under natural condition as a result of dormancy, drought, increased human pressure and other environmental factors. As such, some ex-situ conservation methods are necessary in order to preserve and conserve the productivity of the species. This prompted an investigation into the possibility of vegetative propagation of A. digitata as influenced by rooting media and hormone concentrations using juvenile stem cuttings. Double node stem cuttings were obtained from four months old seedlings and treated with indole-3-butyric acid and indole-acetic acid at 0, 50, 100 and 150mg/L. The treated cuttings were planted into three different sets of rooting media (Top soil, River sand and Saw dust) in a completely randomized design and replicated three times. The cuttings were watered twice a day (morning and evening) with knap sac sprayer. Data was collected on percentage survival, number of roots, length of longest root, total root length and number of leaves. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance. Significantly different means were separated with Duncan multiple Range Tests (P<0.05). The result indicated significant growth differences in the various rooting media and hormone concentrations for the variables assessed. Cuttings dipped in Indole-3-butylic Acid (with a concentration  of 150mg/L) planted in sawdust media (SD/IBA/150mg/L) had the best result of all the variables assessed and therefore recommended for vegetative propagation of A. digitata.

Key word: Vegetative propagation, Growth hormone, Rooting media