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Published:
Apr 24, 2024Updated:
2024-04-24Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Rooting and Seedling Growth of Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina L.) as Affected by Type and Length of Stem Cutting
Abstract
Weeping fig is an important ornamental plant widely used for indoor and outdoor beautification. Difficulty in weeping fig propagation remains a major bane for its mass production in ornamental plant and landscaping industries. Experimental trials were conducted in 2020 and 2021 at the Horticultural Garden of the Department of Horticulture, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria to investigate the effects of type and length of stem cuttings on the rooting and early growth of Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.) in the nursery. At the pre-nursery stage, stem cutting of weeping figs was assessed for rooting characteristics and vigorous seedlings were selected and transplanted into the nursery. Treatments consisted of cuttings obtained from different types of cuttings (soft-wood, semi-hardwood and hardwood) and cutting lengths of 10 and 20 cm. The experiment was a 3 x 2 factorial arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) replicated four times. Data collected on percentage rooted cuttings, number of roots/cutting, root length/cutting, percentage sprouted cuttings, seedling height, number of leaves/seedling, percentage seedling survival, and root fresh and dry weights were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using Genstat statistical software. Means of the treatments were separated using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at a 5% probability level. In 2020, semi-hardwood had 42% rooted cuttings, when hardwood had 39% rooted cuttings, while softwood had 35.38% rooted cuttings. In 2021, semi-hardwood had 38% rooted cuttings; hardwood had 35% and softwood had 31% rooted cuttings. Stem cuttings of 20 cm length had a higher percentage of rooted cuttings of 41% and seedling survival percentage of 87% than stem cuttings of 10 cm length with 29% percentage rooted cuttings and 57%, seedling survival percentage. It was recommended that a 20 cm length of semi-hardwood cutting should be used for mass propagation and optimum seedling growth of F.benjamina.
