Response of Tectona Philippinensis Benth. & Hook (Philippine Teak) Cuttings to Applied Mykovam and Biocore
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Philippine Journal of Science 132 (2): 89-94, December 2003 ISSN 0031 - 7683 Response of Tectona philippinensis Benth. & Hook (Philippine Teak) Cuttings to Applied Mykovam and Biocore Yolina Tarranco-Castañeto* and Minda P. Follosco-Edmiston1 Nueva Vizcaya State University, College of Forestry Bayombong, 3700 Nueva Vizcaya 1Biology Department, College of Science De La Salle University-Manila 2401 Taft Ave., Manila Tectona philippinensis locally known as Philippine teak is an indigenous species belonging to the family Verbenaceae. This species had been declared as endangered due to rapid population decline. Because of this, there is an urgent need to propagate and plant the species to save it from future extinction. Successful rooting using stem cuttings was already achieved and therefore further study was conducted to determine the response of Philippine teak to added Mykovam and Biocore in the nursery. Results of the statistical analysis revealed significant effect of the treatments on height, stem diameter, % organic matter and % nitrogen of the rooted cuttings. Tallest height of rooted cuttings was observed using Biocore at 20 g/seedling (36.97 cm) giving 82.30% increase over that of control seedlings (20.28 cm). Likewise, seedlings applied with combination of Biocore + Mykovam at 5 g/seedling had 25.30 cm height. Seedling diameter was also affected by the application of treatments. Biocore applied at 20 gram/seedling gave significantly biggest seedling diameter among other treatments. Moreover, analysis of tissues revealed significant differences in % organic matter and % nitrogen content among different treatments. Percent organic matter and % N was found 12.16% and 11.32% higher using Biocore 20 g/seedling over that of the control seedlings. From the results, seedlings applied with Biocore 20 g improved seedling height, diameter, % organic matter and % nitrogen over other treatments and that of the control seedlings. Application therefore of Biocore at 20 g/rooted cutting of the Philippine teak is recommended for better growth and survival of seedlings in the nursery. Keywords: biofertilization, rooted cuttings, saplings, stem cuttings, wildings The serious attempt of the Philippine government of quality seeds, the use of other plant parts like to restore degraded forest lands calls for a cohesive stem as planting propagules is a feasible alternative. and comprehensive approach to abate the dwindling Vegetative propagation by stem cuttings is becoming status of forest resources. However, one of the major an important tool for forest tree improvement activities problems in restoration is the inadequate supply of and for the establishment of clonal plantation. It is also quality seeds for massive planting. In the absence an effective way of saving endangered species like Philippine teak for genetic conservation and upland *Corresponding author: [email protected] rehabilitation. Successful rooting using stem cuttings 89 Tarranco-Castañeto & Follosco-Edmiston has been done and the species is found easy to root provide a balance of elements needed by a variety of (Follosco-Edmiston 2002). crops. The organic formulation has been amended with Philippine teak is an endemic forest tree species nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolated from grass (talahib) and belongs to family Verbenaceae. It is a small to roots. It provides a buffering capacity because it has medium tree reaching 15 m high and 50 cm dbh. a pH of more than 7. It also acts as slow-release Its yellowish or creamy-white textured wood is used fertilizer. It contains partially decomposed organic in the construction of bridges, wharves, railway materials which also conditions the soil by improving carriage, ship decks, in wood carving and in general its physical and chemical microbial properties through carpentry. In addition, decoction of fresh dried time (Garcia 1989, Garcia 1990). It is one of the leaves is prescribed for menstrual disorders and promising biofertilizers that can be used for plants. It hemorrhages. The oil from its nuts has good odor and proves to be very effective in enhancing better growth is used as hair grower or applied to the skin to soothe of crops and forest trees and minor forest products irritation (De Guzman et al. 1986). Philippine teak is as well. Biocore used in the experiment was obtained very important because it is one of the three known from Dr. Mercedes U. Garcia. Application of Biocore teak species in the world (Rojo 1981). However, in dagwey (Saurauia subglabra Merr.) an indigenous due to slash and burn cultivation, firewood gathering species enhanced four times increase in height and land conversion to other uses, there was a rapid and three times increase in diameter of seedlings decline of the population of species (Madulid & Agoo planted in the field (Baculanta & Castañeto 2000). 1990). The global conservation status of the species In Dendrocalamus strictus, culm height was six times has been assessed and designated endangered both better for seedlings applied with Biocore as compared in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to the control (Espiritu et al., 2001). In another and the World List of Threatened Trees (Oldfield et experiment using Swietenia macrophylla rooted al. 1998, Walters & Gilleth 1998) as cited by Follosco- cuttings grown in the nursery revealed significant Edmiston (2002). differences in height, stem diameter, length of root, With this current status, conservation efforts root and shoot biomass were higher for seedlings should be immediately undertaken to save the species applied with Biocore (Castañeto, 2001). With the from future extinction. Successful macropropagation positive response of the different species to added using stem cuttings was found feasible and were biofertilizers, species like T. philippinensis needs to successfully done already. However, nursery culture be studied immediately. technique like biofertilization needs to be tried to It is therefore the ultimate objective of the study enhance growth and to produce vigorous seedlings. It to determine the effect of Mykovam and Biocore and will also lessen the dependence to inorganic fertilizer. its combination on the growth of. T. philippinensis. Among the biofertilizers available in the market, Inoculation of Mykovam and Biocore as a nursery Mykovam and Biocore and its combinations were technique aims to produce vigorous seedlings for tested on growth of T. philippinensis. field planting operations and at the same time as an ex-situ conservation. Specifically, the study aims Mykovam is a soil-based biofertilizer contaning to evaluate the response of T. philippinensis rooted effective species of mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi. It is cuttings to added Mykovam and/or Biocore and its a soil inoculant containing spores and mycorrhizal combination. It also determines which of the two propagules commonly used to inoculate nursery- biofertilizers is best and the application dosage best grown seedlings (BIOTECH 1995, Lapitan & Garcia for T. philippinensis in the nursery. 1994). It assists in the absorption of nutrients and water from the soil and can be used for agricultural crops, fruits trees and forest trees. Moreover, the existence of mycorrhiza affects the effectiveness Materials and Methods of roots. It improves water and nutrient uptake, increases resistance to drought and root disease and Collection and maintenance of wildlings survival of newly planted and established trees (Darr, 1996). It is composed of a cocktail of 3 arbuscular Philippine teak wildlings, between 1 to 2 year-old mycorrhizal fungi of Glomus etunicatum, Glomus with a height between 24.50 cm to 35.56 cm were macrocarpus and Gigaspora margarita (Zarate et al., earth-balled from the steep ridges of a secondary forest 1999). It is produced and marketed at the Institute and thickets in Lobo, Batangas. These were planted of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), individually, in a black polyethylene bags filled with University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna. garden soil, watered daily, fertilized once and placed Biocore, on the other hand, comprise a scientific under shaded area until they were carefully transferred formulation produced from carefully decomposed to bigger seedling bags to allow proper rooting. The agricultural wastes, biochemically processed to wildlings were used three months after collection. 90 Response of T. philippinensis cuttings to Applied Mykovam and Biocore Preparation of cuttings the treatments similar, its application dosage was also doubled. The different inoculants were weighed based Young stem cuttings measuring 7.62 cm – 12.7 on the treatments identified and placed in separate cm were collected from apical shoots and lateral papers for use in the experiments. branches of phenotypically superior T. philippinensis 4’ x 6’ black polyethylene bags were filled with 1/3 wildlings maintained in the nursery. Cuttings were prepared potting media. Afterwhich the different amount collected early in the morning when temperature is low of Biocore and Mykovam were placed in the respective to minimize transpiration. The collected cuttings were polyethylene bags with prepared labels as follows: cut into two-node cuttings for rooting experiment and T1 – Control (untreated) placed in a container with water to avoid dessication T2 – Biocore (10 g) and to wash off dust. Leaves from the lower half of the T3 – Mykovam (10 g) cuttings were removed to prevent them from rotting T4 – Biocore and Mykovam (5 g each) while remaining leaves were trimmed in half.