Experiment on Toona ciliata Cuttage Propagation

A comparative experiment was conducted for Toona ciliata cuttage propagation with factors including the types of plant growth regulators, concentration of the regulators, substrate types, and the season for cuttage propagation. Meanwhile, the sapling growth from the cuttage propagation was compared to that of the T. ciliata seedlings. The results showed that the rooting rate of the cuttings in yellow sand substrate was higher than that of in yellow soil, and the average survival rate of the saplings reached 80%. The highest rooting rate was 82%, which was obtained from the cuttage propagation conducted in March, and the average rooting rate from the cuttage propagation conducted in May, September and December was 76%, 78% and 66% respectively. The rooting rate was significantly influenced by age of the cuttings, and the order of the rooting rate from the different aged cuttings was 1yr > 2yr > 3yr over. The optimal plant growth regulator treatment was to soak the cuttings with 500 mg/L of IBA solution before the cuttage establishment. The experiment also showed that the growth rate and root system development of the saplings from the cuttage propagation were both superior to those of the seedlings.