VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF <em>ACACIA</em>. <em>MANGIUM</em> BY STEM CUTTING: THE EFFECT OF SEEDLING AGE AND PHYLLODE NUMBER ON ROOTING

Abstract

The rooting percentage of Acacia mangium stem cuttings decreased significantly with increasing age of stock plants. Cuttings taken from 6 and 12-mth-old stock plants rooted faster than stem cuttings of old stock plants and produced higher rooting percentages of 71.3 and 65.0% respectively. The presence of phyllodes is also an important factor for rooting success of A. mangium stem cuttings. Those with one phyllode or a half-cut phyllode produced better rooting percentages (66.0 to 76.0%), a faster rooting rate, and a very low mortality rate compared to leafless cuttings or cuttings with two phyllodes.