Rooting 'Yoshino' Cryptomeria Stem Cuttings As Influenced by Growth
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PROPAGATION & TISSUE CULTURE HORTSCIENCE 29(12):1532–1535. 1994. Dallim.) Dallim. and A.B. Jacks], which has various disease and insect problems (Baker and Jones, 1987). Rooting ‘Yoshino’ Cryptomeria Stem Although popularity and subsequent de- mand for ‘Yoshino’ cryptomeria and other Cuttings as Influenced by Growth Stage, cultivars of Japanese cedar have increased, little research has been reported in English- Branch Order, and IBA Treatment language journals on factors influencing propa- gation of the species and related cultivars by Laura G. Jull1, Stuart L. Warren2, and Frank A. Blazich3 stem cuttings. For centuries, Japanese cedar has been propagated in Japan for forestry by Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, seed and stem cuttings (Brix and van den NC 27695-7609 Driessche, 1977; Ohba, 1993), and a body of practical knowledge on propagation and cul- Additional index words. Cryptomeria japonica, Japanese cedar, conifer, auxin, indolebutyric ture exists in the Far East. Unfortunately, this acid, propagation information appears not to be published in a Abstract. Stem cuttings of ‘Yoshino’ Japanese cedar [Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D. Don retrievable form. If published, English transla- ‘Yoshino’], consisting of tips (terminal 20 cm) of first-order laterals, distal halves (terminal tions of the articles are not available. Some 10 cm) of tips of first-order laterals, and proximal halves (basal 10 cm) of tips of first-order research concerning stem-cutting propagation laterals, or tips (terminal 10 cm) of second-order laterals, were taken on four dates that of the species has been conducted in the United represented four growth stages (softwood, semi-hardwood, hardwood, and pre- States. Information regarding factors, such as budbreak). The cuttings were treated with 0, 3000, 6000, or 9000 mg IBA/liter. Branch growth stage (timing) and auxin treatment, order affected all rooting measurements at each growth stage. Regardless of growth stage, have been published; however, much of this tips of and proximal halves of first-order laterals containing lignified wood had the highest information is conflicting and needs to be percent rooting, root count, total root length, root area, and root dry weight. Hardwood resolved (Dirr and Heuser, 1987; Lahiri, 1975; tips of and semi-hardwood proximal halves of first-order laterals exhibited the highest Nakayama, 1978; Orndorff, 1974). In addi- overall rooting (87%), followed by softwood proximal halves of first-order laterals (78%). tion, tree forms of Japanese cedar exhibit a Rooting of distal halves of first-order laterals and tips of second-order laterals never well-defined branch order (branch position), exceeded 55% and 34%, respectively, at any growth stage. IBA treatment influenced which may influence rooting. For some coni- percent rooting, root count, total root length, root area, and root dry weight of semi- fers, branch order is an important factor affect- hardwood, hardwood, and pre-budbreak cuttings, except for root dry weight of semi- ing adventitious rooting (Black, 1972; hardwood cuttings. IBA had no affect on softwood cuttings. Chemical name used: 1H- Bogdanov, 1984; Miller et al., 1982) and war- indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). rants study in Japanese cedar. Therefore, we investigated the effects of growth stage (tim- Japanese cedar or cryptomeria, a conifer- This particular cultivar is recommended as a ing), branch order, and IBA treatment on ad- ous evergreen indigenous to Japan and south- replacement for Leyland cypress [X ventitious rooting of ‘Yoshino’ cryptomeria ern China (Dirr, 1990), is a widely used timber Cupressocyparis leylandii (A.B. Jacks and stem cuttings. species in the Far East. It also is considered a sacred tree in Japan with great landscape value (Creech, 1984). The species currently is gain- ing popularity not only in the northeastern United States but also in the hot and humid southeast. The tree thrives in rich, deep, acidic, moist soil but will tolerate heavy clay during dry and wet periods (Dirr, 1990; Tripp, 1993). There are many cultivars of Japanese cedar that have a wide range of ornamental charac- teristics and uses. The popular cultivar Yoshino has a pyramidal form, reaching 15 to 18 m in height, with descending branches. ‘Yoshino’, which has no major insect or disease prob- lems, grows rapidly and makes an excellent evergreen screen (Dirr, 1990; Tripp, 1993). In addition, the emerald green foliage exhibits little dieback or discoloration (Tripp, 1993). Received for publication 7 Apr. 1994. Accepted for publication 23 Aug. 1994. This research was funded by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Ser- vice (NCARS), Raleigh. Use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by NCARS of products named nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned. Technical assistance of William M. Reece is gratefully acknowledged. From a thesis submitted by L.G.J. in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MS degree. The cost of pub- lishing this paper was defrayed in part by the pay- ment of page charges. Under postal regulations, this Fig. 1. Schematic of branch order illustrating locations on ‘Yoshino’ cryptomeria stock plants from which paper therefore must be hereby marked advertise- stem cuttings were taken. Following severance from the stock plants, the cuttings were trimmed further, ment solely to indicate this fact. resulting in (A) tips (terminal 20 cm) of first-order laterals, (B) distal halves (terminal 10 cm) of tips of 1Graduate Research Assistant. first-order laterals, (C) proximal halves (basal 10 cm) of tips of first-order laterals, (D) tips (terminal 10 2Associate Professor. cm) of second-order laterals. Branches were pruned from the basal 4 cm of all cuttings before auxin 3Professor. treatment and subsequent insertion into the rooting medium. 1532 HORTSCIENCE, VOL. 29(12), DECEMBER 1994 Materials and Methods Results and Discussion Similar to softwood and pre-budbreak cut- tings, semi-hardwood tips of and proximal Forty terminal cuttings, consisting of tips Branch order affected all measurements of halves of first-order laterals had the highest (terminal 25 cm) of first-order laterals with rooting for each growth stage, whereas IBA percent rooting (Table 2). However, differ- attached second-order laterals (Fig. 1) were treatment affected all measurements for semi- ences in percent rooting with distal halves taken from each of six, 10-year-old trees grow- hardwood, hardwood, and pre-budbreak cut- varied with IBA concentration. In contrast to ing in the North Carolina State Univ. Arbore- tings, except for root dry weight of semi- the other growth stages, semi-hardwood sec- tum, Raleigh, on four dates that represented hardwood cuttings. Auxin treatment had no ond-order laterals did not root. specific growth stages: 7 Aug. 1992 (soft- influence on softwood cuttings (data not pre- Hardwood tips of first-order laterals (Table wood), 6 Nov. 1992 (semi-hardwood), 15 Jan. sented), results that are similar to those of 1) and semi-hardwood proximal halves of 1993 (hardwood), and 12 Mar. 1993 (pre- Nakayama (1978). Waxman (1962) reported first-order laterals treated with 3000 mg IBA/ budbreak). Shoot growth began ≈15 Apr. 1993. that stem cuttings taken during active growth liter (Table 2) exhibited the highest rooting Cuttings were taken throughout the entire (softwood) are composed of cells that are (87%), followed by softwood proximal halves crown of each tree. The trees were growing actively dividing and elongating and may con- of first-order laterals (78%) (Table 1), which under uniform fertility and had not been tain high concentrations of root-promoting illustrates that particular branch orders rooted sheared. factors (e.g., auxin). These cells quickly ini- well at several growth stages. Henry et al. As cuttings were collected, they were tiate roots. Thus, softwood cuttings of (1992), working with eastern red cedar placed in plastic bags and transported to the ‘Yoshino’ cryptomeria may not have benefited (Juniperus virginiana L.), reported maximum Horticultural Science Greenhouses, Ra- from supplemental exogenous auxin. IBA × rooting with hardwood cuttings, whereas root- leigh, N.C. After collection, all cuttings branch-order interactions were nonsignificant ing of softwood cuttings was negligible. Re- were pooled, randomized, and trimmed, except for percent rooting of semi-hardwood duced rooting with softwood cuttings of some resulting in the following groups: a) entire cuttings and root count of hardwood and pre- coniferous species also has been reported by tips (terminal 20 cm) of first-order laterals, budbreak cuttings. Hartmann et al. (1990). Rooting of distal halves b) distal halves (terminal 10 cm) of tips of Softwood and pre-budbreak tips of first- of first-order laterals and tips of second-order first-order laterals, c) proximal halves (basal order laterals and proximal halves of first- laterals never exceeded 55% and 34%, respec- 10 cm) of tips of first-order laterals, or d) order laterals had the highest percent rooting, tively, at any growth stage (Tables 1 and 2). tips (terminal 10 cm) of second-order later- followed by distal halves of first-order laterals These findings agree with previous reports for als (Fig. 1). Before auxin treatment, lower and tips of second-order laterals (Table 1). conifers regarding the influence of branch branches, not needles, were pruned with Bases of both cutting types consisted of ligni- order on rooting (Black, 1972; Bogdanov, hand shears