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Improving propagation methods of Gnetum africanum and G. buchholzianum from cuttings for rapid multiplication, domestication and conservation

Agroforestry Systems volume 93, pages 1557–1565 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Deforestation and increased demand of G. africanum and G. buchholzianum leaves have considerably resulted in a decline of the wild population of these valuable agroforestry products only found in Africa. A study was conducted to improve adventitious rooting using cuttings of each species soaked for 12 h in solution of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 mg/L before planting in non-mist propagators. Cuttings of G. buchholzianum showed better rooting performances than those of G. africanum. Apart from cuttings of G. africanum treated with IAA at 200 mg/L, the three auxins significantly increased the percentage of rooting compared to the control. The best rooting percentage in G. africanum (77.33%) and G. buchholzianum (95.33%) was noticed in cuttings treated with NAA (100 mg/L) and IBA (100 mg/L), respectively. Pretreatment of African Gnetum cuttings with auxins at almost all the tested concentrations significantly increased root length, root number and root dry weight compared to the control. The pretreatment duration of cuttings also significantly affected rooting efficiency in both species with maximum rooting percentage observed on cuttings pretreated for 12 h. However, above the 12-h duration, majority of the measured rooting traits were reduced in treated cuttings. Rooted cuttings grew successfully after being transferred to pots filled with soil substrate. This study demonstrates the utility of auxin treatment of cuttings for the mass production of African Gnetum plantlets, which will facilitate the domestication and prevent the overexploitation of wild stocks.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Rufford Foundation (England) for partially funding the work through the First Rufford Small Grant for Nature Conservation (Ref. 13706-1) awarded to the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jay P. Johnson Biotechnology Laboratory, IRAD Ekona Regional Research Centre, Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, PMB 25, Buea, Cameroon

    Oumar Doungous, Mercy A. Ngone & Armand M. Nsimi

  2. Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, PO Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon

    Emile Minyaka, Apollin F. Medueghue & Claude Simo

  3. Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, BP 941, Franceville, Gabon

    Samson D. Medza-Mve

Authors
  1. Oumar Doungous
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  2. Emile Minyaka
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  3. Samson D. Medza-Mve
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  4. Apollin F. Medueghue
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  5. Mercy A. Ngone
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  6. Claude Simo
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  7. Armand M. Nsimi
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Correspondence to Oumar Doungous.

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Doungous, O., Minyaka, E., Medza-Mve, S.D. et al. Improving propagation methods of Gnetum africanum and G. buchholzianum from cuttings for rapid multiplication, domestication and conservation. Agroforest Syst 93, 1557–1565 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-018-0269-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-018-0269-8

Keywords

  • Gnetum africanum
  • G. buchholzianum
  • Auxin
  • Rooting
  • Domestication