Propagation of Castanopsis sclerophylla and Lindera umbellata by Stem Cuttings and Nitrogen Nutrition of Containerized Ternstroemia gymnanthera

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Date

2002-10-17

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Abstract

Stem cuttings of Castanopsis sclerophylla (Lindley & Paxton) Schottky were taken on three dates representing three growth stages (softwood, semi-hardwood, or hardwood). Semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings were treated with 0, 2500, 5000, 7500, or 10,000 ppm of the free acid of indolebutyric acid (IBA) dissolved in 50% isopropyl alcohol, whereas softwood cuttings were treated with the same concentrations of the potassium (K) salt of IBA (K-IBA) dissolved in distilled water. Cuttings were placed in a raised greenhouse bench under intermittent mist. After 2 weeks, cuttings taken at the semi-hardwood and hardwood stages began to drop their leaves and the majority eventually died, with negligible rooting of surviving cuttings. Response of softwood cuttings to K-IBA was quadratic with the greatest rooting (63%) at 7500 ppm K-IBA. However, root number and root length were not significantly affected by K-IBA. Softwood, semi-hardwood, or hardwood stem cuttings of Lindera umbellata Bl. (Chinese spicebush) were taken on three dates, each representing a different growth stage. Semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings were treated with 0, 2500, 5000, 7500, or 10,000 ppm of the free acid of IBA dissolved in 50% isopropyl alcohol, whereas softwood cuttings were treated with the same concentrations of K-IBA dissolved in distilled water. All cuttings were placed in a raised greenhouse bench under intermittent mist. After 12 weeks the cuttings were harvested and data recorded. The majority of the hardwood cuttings died, with none of the survivors rooting. Softwood cuttings survived but only 4.5% rooted. Response of the semi-hardwood cuttings to IBA was quadratic with the greatest rooting (73%) for cuttings treated with 7500 ppm IBA. However, root number and root length were not significantly affected by IBA. Rooted stem cuttings of Japanese ternstroemia (Ternstroemia gymnanthera Thunb.) were grown in 3.8-L (1 gal) plastic containers utilizing 8 pine bark : 1 sand (by vol.) amended with micronutrients and dolomite. Plants were fertilized every other day with a solution consisting of P (K₂H₂PO₄) at a constant rate of 30 ppm, K (K₂SO₄) at a constant rate of 60 ppm, and a variable rate of N (NH₄NO₃) at 0, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, or 320 ppm. Leaf area and shoot (stems and leaves) dry weight increased with increasing N application rate (NAR) until a plateau was reached at 117 ppm. Root : shoot ratio was 0.8 with N at 0 ppm, increased to 0.9 with N at 10 ppm, then decreased to ≈0.1 with N at 104 ppm. Root dry weight and root area increased in response to increasing NARs, reaching a plateau with N at 86 and 70 ppm respectively. Leaf weight ratio (leaf dry weight / total plant dry weight) increased from 0.2 with N at 0 ppm to a plateau of ≈0.6 with N at 109 ppm. Stem weight ratio (stem dry weight / total plant dry weight) was 0.4 with N at 0 ppm then decreased to a plateau of ≈0.3 with N at 52 ppm. Root weight ratio (root dry weight / total plant dry weight) decreased steadily from 0.4 with N at 0 ppm to ≈0.1 with N at 117 ppm. Shoot N, P, K, and S concentrations increased with increasing NARs, reaching plateaus at 117, 23, 124, and 183 ppm, respectively, while Mg was unaffected by NAR. Calcium concentrations increased to 0.75% with a NAR of 40 ppm, and decreased to a plateau of 0.6 % with N at 107 ppm. Root mineral nutrient concentrations of N, P, K, and S increased with increasing NARs, reaching plateaus of 287, 53, 39, and 195 ppm respectively, whereas Ca and Mg were not affected by NAR.

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Keywords

container production, fertilization, mineral nutrition, Lauraceae, Fagaceae, adventitious rooting, indolebutyric acid, auxin

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Degree

MS

Discipline

Horticultural Science

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