Root Initiation in Ocotea bullata (Burch.) Baill. Cuttings

Abstract

Ocotea bullata (Burch.) Baill. is known for its difficulty in propagation from cuttings. This preliminary study investigated the potential of ‘Rockwool’ as a rooting medium as compared to the more conventional bark, sand, mixtures of these two, and coir. It is known that Ocotea bullata contains certain aromatic oils which inhibit the rapid rooting of cuttings and that such cuttings do root under a saturated regime. It was felt that ‘Rockwool’, due to its high water-retaining properties, would prove to be a viable medium for rooting cuttings of this tree and that it could also lead to mechanised propagation on a large scale. The results of this study indicate that ‘rockwool’ is a viable rooting medium—with cuttings rooting within 60 days.