Working Papers of the Finnish Forest Research Institute 114 Vegetative propagation of conifers for enhancing landscaping and tree breeding. Proceedings of the Nordic meeting held in September 10th-11th 2008 at Punkaharju, Finland http://www.metla.fi/julkaisut/workingpapers/2009/mwp114.htm Working Papers of the Finnish Forest Research Institute 114: 48–52 Rooting Nordmann fir cuttings for Christmas trees? Ulrik Bräuner Nielsen1, Hanne N. Rasmussen1 and Martin Jensen2 1 University of Copenhagen, Forest and Landscape, Denmark;
[email protected] 2 University of Aarhus, Department of Horticulture, Aarslev, Denmark Recent succes with rooted cuttings in fir (Abies spp.) propagation stimulated this experiment with Abies nordmanniana, an important Christmas tree species in Denmark. Cuttings were taken in late summer from young and older trees, untreated or stumped, and from specified positions within the crown. Auxin was administered to some cuttings at varying concentrations. Rooting was monitored over a period of 6 months and attained 60-70% in the best shoot types. Auxin had no influence on rooting but concentration correlated positively with tissue decay in basal end of cuttings. Rooting of cuttings from the leader in untreated trees decreased markedly with age while cuttings from the branches decreased less dramatically. No basipetal trend of rooting capability of branches could be ascertained. Orthotropic shoots that regenerated on stumped trees rooted with varying success, the ones originating from the main stem, and preferably at a low position, performing best. Orthotropic growth was maintained in 35-45% of these shoots 8 months after rooting, while plagiotropic growth was prevalent in cuttings of other shoot types.