Genetic variation in the number of cuttings harvestable and rooted from Vochysia guatemalensis coppiced stumps

A total of 3029 cuttings were harvested from coppiced stumps of 96 trees re presenting six provenances of Vochysia guatemalensis. There was significant variation in diameter between provenances with tree stumps from La Ceiba i n Honduras being the largest with a mean of 13.4 cm compared with 10.5 cm f or Siquirres in Costa Rica. Regression analysis was utilised to determine t he influence of provenance and diameter on the numbers of coppice shoots pr oduced by each tree and the subsequent rooting ability of cuttings taken fr om them. Significantly more shoots and cuttings were produced on trees with larger diameters. There was also a significant provenance influence on sho ot and cutting production. The fitted regression model predicted a differen ce of 20 cuttings from stumps of the same diameter between provenances Flor encia, Costa Rica and La Ceiba, Honduras. In contrast to the positive effec t of large stump diameter on the number of cuttings produced, the rooting a bility of cuttings was negatively influenced by the diameter of the stump. The average rooting percentage of cuttings from individual provenances vari ed between 30% and 70% with an overall rooting percentage of 64%. The impli cations of these results for commercial vegetative propagation programmes a re discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.