Dickens E. Dolor, Kehinde Okunomo, Peter G. Eruotor
Abstract
The effects of different concentrations of applied auxin (IBA) on the rooting potentials of leafy stem cuttings of
Irvingia wombolu obtained from coppiced shoots and inserted in a low technology non mist propagation system was also
assessed in an experiment conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Delta State University, Asaba Campus,
Nigeria. Five treatments namely 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200ppm IBA dissolved in 50% industrial alcohol applied by dipping
the base of the cuttings for 5 seconds. The result of the experiment displayed no pronounced effect of IBA
concentration on rooting percentage with 25ppm recording (51.1 %), 50ppm and 200ppm each recording 50.3 %, 100ppm,
(43.4 %) and the control, (49.6 %). The mean number of roots, leaf abscission, cutting mortality and the number of
cuttings forming new shoots were unaffected by IBA concentration. Root length was however influenced by IBA
concentration with 200ppm higher (P = 0.01) than the rest treatments. The results suggest that the application of
IBA for mass clonal propagation of I. wombolu may not be necessary.
Key words:
Irvingia wombolu, vegetative propagation, softwood cuttings, IBA