Vegetative Propagation of Juvenile Leafy Stem Cuttings of Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkm and Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC

Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkm and Syzygiym guineense (Willd.) DC subsp. guineense are multipurpose indigenous trees to Ethiopia. Reforestation with these species is hindered due to their recalcitrant seeds and a higher seed predation. This study tested the effects of Indole-3-butyric Acid (IBA) and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) applied at a concentration of 0.0, 0.2 and 0.4% on juvenile leafy stem cuttings of P. africana and S. guineense using non-mist polypropagator. Two leaves with an area of 30-35 cm2 were left on each cutting. The bases of cuttings were dipped in the hormones for 3 seconds and placed into the rooting medium. All the rooted cuttings of the S. guineense and P. africana were potted in polythene bags containing a mixture of sand, forest soil and well decomposed manure. Auxin treatment had no significant effect on the final rooting percentage of both species. The effect of auxin treatment on root number, root and shoot length of the rooted cuttings of P. africana and S. guineense was significant (p<0.01). The establishment test on the rooted cuttings indicated that mortality accounted for only 0-2%. Prospects for vegetative propagation with the juvenile leafy stem cuttings of the above species are good as cuttings were easily rooted. The low technology non-mist polypropagator designed for tropical trees could serve as a tool for propagation of these species for conservation and capture of genetic variation. Further study on donor plant management is required for maintenance of juvenility to harvest more cuttings for plantation purposes.