| heal.abstract |
Asexual propagation of Bauhinia variegata L. by shoot cuttings is reported for the first time, and compared with propagation by seed. Cuttings were taken from the apex, centre and base of shoots of the current year's growth on mature trees in Attiki during autumn (November) and summer (July) of two years (1998, 1999). Cuttings were dipped in solutions of 2000-6000 ppm indole butyric acid (IBA) and planted under mist in a peat-perlite (1:1 v/v) substrate. After four months, the rooting of summer cuttings was 20% or lower, whereas that of autumn cuttings was as high as 60%. Rooting was most successful when cuttings were taken from the basal region of shoots and treated with 2000 ppm IBA. Seeds were collected from the same trees five months after flowering, placed in Petri dishes and incubated at 10-35°C. Germination was highest at 25-30°C (84-85%) and the rate of germination was fastest at the same temperatures (T50 = 5.5-6.0 days). Germinated seeds were transferred to plastic pots and plant survival was 100% after five months. Although published data on other Bauhinia species indicate poor seed germination and a low survival rate for cuttings, the present results show that B. variegata can be satisfactorily propagated by cuttings taken from the basal region of shoots in autumn, but the success rate is lower than for seed. |
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