Abstract

Egbe E. A.*, Chuyong G. B., Fonge A. B., Tata B. L. and Tabot P. T.

The effects of different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on the rooting of leafy stem cuttings of Albizia zygia, Blighia welwitschii, Lophira alata and Pterocarpus soyauxii were investigated using non-mist propagators. Four hormone concentrations were used; 16000, 8000, 4000 and 0 µg ml-1 (control). Results indicated that Albizia, Blighia and Lophira cuttings rooted best when treated with 16000 µg ml-1 IBA (80, 100 and 40% respectively) and their control cuttings did not root. Pterocarpus stem cuttings treated with 8000 and 4000 µg ml-1 had 100% rooting while those treated with 16000 µg ml-1 and control was 80%. The highest root number was noted in cuttings of the various species treated with 16000 µg mlIBA and there were significantly differences only from treatments of Blighia and Pterocarpus species. Stem cuttings treated with IBA at 16000 µg ml-1 also gave the fastest rooting time which ranged from 18 to 78 days. Stem cuttings of Blighia, Albizia and Lophira species treated with16000 µg ml-1 IBA also had the longest roots (2.48, 1.23 and 1.45 cm respectively). The longest root length of Pterocarpus was observed in cuttings treated with 8000 µg ml-1 of IBA (3.72 cm). Vegetative production of seedlings of these species is essential for reforestation programmes.