Rooting Ability of Melia volkensii Cuttings Under Different Auxin Concentration Levels and Provenances

Melia volkensii is one of the most popular fast growing agro-forestry tree species in East Africa's arid and semi arid lands. It is valued for for production of termite resistant timber. Kenya Forestry Research Institute is carrying out studies on management, improvement and domestication of species with a major focus on improving low germination mortality and other propagation methods. Vegetative propagation was investigated in order to supplement more seedlings for increased demand of the species. The objective of this study was to determine and predict the effect of varying levels of auxin concentrations on rooting of melia volkensii shoot cuttings under different provenances. The experiment was set in a split plot design and conducted in a non-mist propagator. The number of roots was recorded for every cutting in the experiment. Mean cumulative cutting percentage were analysed using ANOVA procedures by first checking homogeneity of variance; Pearson correlation were carried out to check the interrelation of the factors with rooting and Logistic ability of the cuttings. The results showed that cuttings inoculated with 0.3 mgl-1significantly (p<0.01) rooted better than all other auxin concentration levels. Cuttings collected from Taveta, significantly (p<0.01) rooted better than those from Meru and Kitui. Overall, there was negative significant (p<0.01) correlation between rooting and concentrations with 7 mgl-1not showing any rooting from three provenances. In conclusion 0.03 mgl-1should be used for further vegetative propagation of M. vokensii. Cutting from Taveta inoculated with 0.3 mgl-1would significantly increase the number of seedlings for planting