EVALUATION OF ROOTING IN LATERAL SHOOTS AND NODAL STEM CUTTINGS OF <em>LEUCAENA</em> (<em>L.</em> <em>LEUCOCEPHALA</em> AND <em>L.</em> <em>DIVERSIFOLIA</em>) CLONES FOR CLONAL PROPAGATION

Abstract

Clonal propagation method was developed for Leucaena clones (L. leucocephala and L. diversifolia) using lateral shoots which gave many advantages over the conventional method of using nodal stem cuttings. Lateral shoots of 25–30 cm length with apical buds emerging at 30–60° angle from stock plants maintained in sand beds gave higher rooting than nodal stem cuttings. Anatomical configuration of stem cuttings taken at positions 1–4 from shoot apex differed significantly between lateral and nodal cuttings and E. camaldulensis used as control. Rooting was significantly higher (87%) at 25–30 cm length (position 4) in lateral shoots (where vessel frequency was highest) compared with other positions (28–43%) and nodal cuttings (16–53%), whereas Eucalyptus stem cuttings had higher frequency of vessels of lower diameter and > 80% rooting at all positions. Rooting occurred in Leucaena lateral shoots within 20 days of misting with roots emerging all around the stem along a length of 2 cm from base of the cutting. Lateral cuttings produced significantly higher number of roots (22 roots per plant) than nodal cuttings (6 roots per plant) with significant reduction in nursery period (60 days), better rooting (> 80%) and root architecture.