African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 13 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Innovative Air Layering Techniques for the Cultivation of Irvingia gabonensis

Zac Tchoundjeu, Alain Calice Tsobeng*, Ebenezer Asaah and Paul Anegbeh

World Agroforestry Centre - West and Central Africa Region (ICRAF-WCA), P. O. Box 16317, Yaounde-Cameroon.

Accepted 8 October, 2024

Irvingia gabonensis is one of the most important indigenous fruit tree species in African humid tropics. Methods have been developed for phenotypic selection and vegetative propagation of this species; but techniques for the capture of desired traits through inexpensive technological methods are still lacking. A series of experiments were conducted to assess the effects of auxin (Seradix-2) application (treated and untreated marcotts), branch diameter ( , and 4 - 5 cm), and position in the crown (lower, middle and upper) on the rooting of marcotts on one hand; and the combined effect of branch length and diameter (50 cm length, 2 - 3 cm diameter), (50 cm length, 4 - 5 cm diameter), (100 cm length, 2 - 3 cm diameter), (100 cm length, 4 - 5 cm diameter), (150 cm length, 2 - 3 cm diameter), (150 cm length, 4 - 5 cm diameter) on the survival of rooted marcotts on other hand. After 12 months, the proportion of rooted marcotts was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for untreated (50 ± 7.3%), than for treated marcotts (31 ± 6.7%). Marcotts of 3 - 5 cm diameter rooted significantly better (46.9 ± 5.1%) than those of 2 - 3 cm of diameter (32.1 ± 5.2%). Branch position in the crown did not affect rooting ability of marcotts. After 8 weeks, the highest survival rate of weaned marcotts (40%) was observed for those with 100 cm length and 2 - 3 cm diameter while the highest mortality rate was obtained for those with 150 cm length and 4 - 5 cm of diameter (90%). It can be therefore concluded from this study that I. gabonensis is amenable to air-layering but further studies are needed to improve the survival rate during the weaning period.

Key words: Irvingia gabonensis, domestication, marcotting, rooting ability, auxin, branch diameter, length and position.