Vegetative Propagation of Afzelia Africana Sm
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Available online at http://www.ifgdg.org Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 14(1): 204-212, January 2020 ISSN 1997-342X (Online), ISSN 1991-8631 (Print) Original Paper http://ajol.info/index.php/ijbcs http://indexmedicus.afro.who.int Vegetative propagation of Afzelia africana Sm. Ex Pers.: a multipurpose and threatened tree Ejeoghene Rita OGBIMI*, Ayobola Moninuola SAKPERE and Seun Michael AKINROPO Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria. *Corresponding author; E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: 08068318601/ 08155382432 ABSTRACT Afzelia africana is at the verge of extinction from continuous exploitation without replacement, thus propagation of this tree species is expedient. Vegetative propagation is a reliable means of propagation of tree species. This study therefore describes a protocol for the vegetative propagation of Afzelia africana by using stem cuttings from its mature tree (20 years old) and saplings (2 years old). Herbaceous (non - lignified portion of the stem) and semi – hard wood cuttings (lignified portion of the stem) (with and without leaves) were treated with high and low concentrations of Indole butyric acid (IBA) solution via the quick dip and the soaking method of application and planted on forest soil and river sand in a humidifier. Cuttings from mature tree planted on forest soil and river sand did not respond to any treatment. Also, no response was observed on cuttings collected from saplings and planted on forest soil; however, cuttings planted on river sand sprouted. The presence and absence of leaves and IBA treatment had an interaction effect on root number (0.02) and root length (0.0001). The response from herbaceous cuttings was significantly higher than from semi – hard wood cuttings with respect to root number (1.00) and root length (5.82 cm). Cutting type and IBA treatment also had an interaction effect on root number (0.05) and root length (0.0007). Herbaceous leafy stem cuttings of A. africana treated with 400 ppm IBA and planted on river sand is suitable for rooting stem cuttings of A. africana for raising seedlings for reforestation, afforestation and other conservation purposes. © 2020 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Rooting, cuttings, Afzelia africana, hormone, humidifier. INTRODUCTION Afzelia africana is found in the humid and dry Afzelia africana Sm. Ex Pers. known forests, especially in the forest-savanna as African mahogany or African oak is a large borders or semi-deciduous forest. Afzelia deciduous tree. It is a leguminous tree which africana prefers sandy soil in well-watered belongs to the family Leguminosae or sites but it can tolerate seasonally Fabaceae, sub-family Caesalpiniaceae. It is hydromorphic and lateritic soils. In Nigeria, it widely distributed in many African countries is called akpalata in Igbo, apa in Yoruba, including Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central yiase in Tiv, ukpo in Idoma and kawa in African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Hausa. Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Tender leaves and shoots of Afzelia Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra-Leone, Sudan, africana are added in yam dishes and eaten as Tanzania and Uganda (Orwa et al., 2009). vegetables alone or mixed with ground cereals © 2020 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. 8350-IJBCS DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v14i1.17 E. R. OGBIMI et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 14(1): 204-212, 2020 before cooking, (Igwenyi and Akubugwo, been categorized as a threatened species by 2010). The nitrogen-rich leaves also serve as the International Union of Conservation of soil improver especially when mulching. A Nature (IUCN, 2012). leaf decoction mixed with Syzygium Cloning forestry (establishing forests guineensis leaves and Xylopia fruit forms a through vegetative propagation) was proposed drink used to treat oedema (Orwa et al., 2009). as an alternative propagation method The flowers are used as condiment in sauces. comparable to conventional seedling - based In traditional medicine, an infusion of the bark forestry. This technique offers a unique is used against paralysis; and as a decoction opportunity of avoiding the problem of against constipation. The crushed bark mixed recalcitrant seeds predominant in tropical tree with honey is used in veterinary medicine species. Also, it circumvents long juvenile while the ash can be prepared with shea butter periods. as soap and used against lumbago. The root The multiple use of A. africana in of the plant can be pulverized and employed West Africa, particularly the use of the seeds in the treatment of various ailments and has led to a permanent pressure on natural disease conditions such as hernias, gonorrhea, populations. However, propagation by stem and stomach ache. cuttings offers a means of rapid regeneration Afzelia africana is one of the non- and conservation of its germplasm, hence this conventional vegetables obtained from forests, study. Therefore, the objective of the study and supplements the conventional ones was to develop a protocol for vegetative obtained from farms and home gardens. propagation of A. africana through Afzelia africana seeds contain extractable oil investigating the effect of different IBA (Palgrave and Palgrave, 2002) and the treatments on leafy and non-leafy herbaceous physicochemical and fuel properties of the and semi – hard wood stem cuttings of methyl esters shows its potentials in biodiesel saplings and mature tree. Achieving this is production. The oil can release high amount inevitable in reversing the status of this tree of heat on combustion and can ignite easily in species from threatened to widely cultivate. a combustion engine. The iodine and peroxide values shows increased stability of MATERIALS AND METHODS the oil during storage and transportation The experiment was conducted in the (Igwenyi et al., 2011). Despite the usefulness Department of Botany, Obafemi Awolowo of this plant, it is on the verge of extinction, University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria (Lat 7 ⁰ 32 N owing to population explosion, urbanization Long 4 ⁰ 31 E), between March 2017 and and the resultant degradation of natural August 2017. It was set up in a humidifier forests; and the preference of farmers to placed under partial shade. The rooting produce the conventional vegetables medium was forest top soil and river sand. (Umedum et al., 2014). Afzelia africana is propagated by seeds Preparation of cutting materials and vegetative technique through budding. Herbaceous and semi – hard wood Natural regeneration is poor because seed stem cuttings were obtained from mature tree predation by animals is usually high (Amusa, and 1 – 2 years old saplings of A. africana in 2011). Afzelia africana seeds are dormant and the Obafemi Awolowo University estate. they become recalcitrant on storage (Orwa et Stem cuttings of 8 – 10 cm length were used al., 2009). The rate of seed germination in the with a set partially defoliated (with leaves) wild is low and its seedlings rarely develop and another set completely defoliated (without into saplings. The stock of A. africana leaves). species has been badly depleted. In addition, the species is not fire resistant (Amusa, 2010). Application of growth hormone Exploitation for timber is locally severe, for Herbaceous (non - lignified portion example in Ghana, and conservation measures obtained from the terminal end of the branch) have been recommended. Afzelia africana has and the semi – hard wood cutting (lignified 205 E. R. OGBIMI et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 14(1): 204-212, 2020 portion obtained towards the base of the The concentration of IBA treatment branch) were collected and treated with (0, and the presence or absence of leaves on stem 100, 200 and 400) ppm liquid formulation of cuttings had no significant effect at P < 0.05 Indole Butyric Acid. These cuttings were on the mean shoot number. Herbaceous soaked for eighteen hours in the hormone cuttings with leaves treated with 200 ppm IBA solution. Another set of cuttings were treated had the highest mean shoot height (3.16a) with with (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000) ppm 60% of the cuttings sprouting and 20% IBA via the quick dip method. The cuttings rooting. Herbaceous cuttings with leaves were rinsed and air dried after the hormone treated with 400 ppm IBA produced the treatment, and then planted and watered every highest mean number of root (1.00a) and the two days for 8 weeks, except during the rainy longest roots (5.82a) (Figure 1) with 80% of season when they were watered twice a week. the cuttings sprouting and rooting. The general trend observed was that Experimental design and statistical analysis for herbaceous cuttings without leaves, the The experiment was set up in a mean shoot number decreased as the completely randomized design with two concentration of IBA treatment increased up replicates of four (for low concentration of to 200 ppm, whereas for herbaceous cuttings IBA) and five (for high concentration of IBA) with leaves, mean shoot number increased as treatments with each consisting of five IBA treatment increased (Table 1). A similar cuttings. Four categories of stem cuttings trend was observed with respect to mean shoot (from both mature tree and sapling) were used height, mean root number and mean root in the study and they are - leafy herbaceous, length in herbaceous cuttings without leaves, a non - leafy herbaceous, leafy semi - hard decrease was observed as the concentration of wood and non - leafy semi – hard wood. IBA increased. In the case of cuttings treated Growth parameters such as sprouting with 0 ppm IBA, there was a significant percentage, rooting percentage, number of decrease between this treatment and other roots, length of roots, number of shoots and IBA treatments with respect to mean root length of shoots were measured after 8 weeks. length. In herbaceous cuttings with leaves, The data was subjected to square root the mean number of roots increased when the transformation, after which a one and two- IBA treatments increased with the highest way analysis of variances were carried out and number of roots formed in cuttings treated the means separated with least significant with 400 ppm IBA (1.00a), while in difference (LSD) at P ˂ 0.05.