Variation in Rooting Pattern of Leucaena leucocephala in Relation to Propagation System and Stock Mother Plants

Lateral shoot cuttings are used for multiplication of Leucaena leucocephala clones to control lodging in pulpwood plantations. Variability in rooting pattern was evaluated in lateral cuttings from four types of mother plants (a) sand beds in shade house (SH), (b) sand beds with overhead shade, (c) open sand beds and (d) open field hedges (CMA) in a commercial Leucaena clone. Rooting rate of SH cuttings varied significantly with propagation conditions across two mist chambers (87% in MC 1 versus 68% in MC 2). Rooting pattern also differed with 77% cuttings in MC 1 having long root zone (>2.5 cm length from stem base) compared to only 10% plants in MC 2. Application of rooting hormone (IBA 5000 ppm) increased number of roots by 46% and root zone length by 39% in SH cuttings. Rooting rate did not vary between winter and summer season. Lateral cuttings from open sand bed and CMA had comparatively thicker stem with anatomical configuration of larger pith region, large diameter vessels in low frequency and sclerenchyma bundles, compared to mother plants raised in shade (a and b). Rooting rate was high (83-87%) in covered sand beds (a and b) compared to those (c and d) in open sunlight (43-68%). Majority of cuttings from open sand bed (85%) and CMA (93%) had short root zone (<2.5 cm length) compared to covered sand beds (30%). Clonal propagules with good root system can be produced from Leucaena cuttings when mother plants are maintained in shade and provided suitable propagation conditions.