VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF PARKIA-BIGLOBOSA (JACQ) BENTH, AN UNDOMESTICATED FRUIT TREE FROM WEST-AFRICA

The rooting of single node leafy stem cuttings from seedlings of Parki a biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth. was examined with respect to provenance, au xin application, basal wounding, and the nodal position on the shoot. Provenances of P. biglobosa from three West African savanna ecozones: Derived, Guinea and Sudan were used for the study. In the absence of a uxins and basal wounding, 40% of the cuttings rooted and 80% survived throughout the observation period of 6-8 weeks. However, the addition of auxins and wounding significantly affected the rooting of the cutti ngs. 100 ppm of the auxin alpha-napthalene acetic acid (NAA) was more effective than 100 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). However, when the concentration of both auxins was increased to 200 ppm, IBA was more ef fective than NAA. In general, wounding cuttings by making a diagonal c ut at the end of the stem enhanced rooting, yet the application of 100 ppm NAA negated the beneficial effect. Bruising the stem was detrimen tal to rooting, except for cuttings from the Sudan provenance. Percent age survival and rooting were highest in cuttings taken from the termi nal node and decreased progressively down the shoot. However, the root ing of cuttings from basal nodes was enhanced by wounding. The provena nce from the Derived savanna rooted most easily, responding positively to low concentrations of both auxins and to wounding. The Guinea sava nna provenance responded best to high concentrations of the combined a uxins, whereas the Sudan savanna provenance achieved the highest perce ntage rooting with wounding alone.