Abstract

Vegetative propagation of the edible climber Gnetum africanum Welw. was examined using a low technology non-mist propagation system in Cameroon. Leafy stem cuttings taken from vines growing naturally in a forest reserve were allocated randomly to experimental treatments. Three separate experiments tested respectively: (i) six propagation media, namely sawdust (SD), fine sand (FS), medium sand (MS), gravel (G), and 50:50 mixtures of G:SD and MS:SD; (ii) five IBA concentrations, namely 0, 8, 40, 200 and 250 μg IBA dissolved in 10 μl of alcohol; and (iii) five leaf-area treatments, namely 0, 12.5, 25, 50 and 80 cm2, obtained using paper templates. Propagation medium had a significant effect on final rooting percentage, values ranging from 43-82% in MS:SD and SD respectively. Although IBA had no significant effect on final rooting percentage, root number per rooted cutting was positively related to IBA concentration, values ranging from 6.8-13.8 in the O and 250 μg treatments respectively. Rooting percentage and root number were positively related to leaf area, with no rooting recorded in completely defoliated cuttings. These results indicate that G. africanum may be successfully propagated using these techniques, which should greatly facilitate the domestication of this species.