Abstract

Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum (Sterculiaceae) is an economically important timber species of West Africa which has been heavily exploited in recent years. Vegetative propagation techniques have been developed for the species to overcome difficulties of seed supply, and to encourage reforestation efforts. The current study describes the first application of such techniques in Ghana, using a low technology propagation system. Three experiments were carried out, testing two stockplant growth environments (direct sunlight and 50% shade) with (i) application of fertilizer (NPK, 15:15:15) to stockplants; (ii) different cutting leaf areas (30, 50, 80 and 100 cm2) and; (iii) different cutting stem lengths (5, 10 and 15 cm). Addition of fertilizer to the stockplants significantly increased rooting percentage (P=0.001, ANOVA), particularly in the stockplants grown under high irradiance. The effect of cutting leaf area on rooting percentage was significant (P=0.011, ANOVA), with highest rooting percentages recorded in the 100 cm2 treatments. No significant interaction with irradiance treatment with leaf area was recorded. In the third experiment, the effect of irradiance treatment on rooting percentage was highly significant (P<0.001, ANOVA), with highest rooting percentages recorded in the cuttings from stockplants grown under shade. There was no significant effect of stem length on rooting ability. These results indicate that T. scleroxylon is amenable to vegetative propagation using the techniques described, with rooting percentages of around 50% achieved in each of the three experiments. On the basis of these results, fertilization of stockplants and the use of cutting leaf areas of 100 cm2 may be recommended for use in the propagation system described.