Articles
Effect of rooting media and IBA treatment on rooting response of South African dune spinach (Tetragonia decumbens): an underutilized edible halophyte
Article number
1356_38
Pages
319 – 326
Language
English
Abstract
Tetragonia decumbens is a neglected wild vegetable in South Africa.
The dearth of literature on its propagation and cultivation methods has led to its underutilization.
This prompted an investigation on the vegetative propagation of T. decumbens as influenced by rooting media and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) treatment to formulate a viable propagation protocol for potential growers of the species.
Nodal stem cuttings of T. decumbens were obtained from a selected plant population growing along the coast at the Granger Bay campus of the Cape peninsula University of Technology, South Africa.
Stem cuttings of about ±15 cm long with a stem thickness of approximately 8 mm were treated with different concentrations of a commercial growth regulator Dynaroot (containing 0.1% IBA for 1 softwood, 0.3% for 2 semi-hardwood and 0.8% for 3 hardwood) and planted into four different rooting media: sand (S), sand:peat (SP) (1:1), perlite:peat (PP) (1:1) and peat:perlite:vermiculite (PPV) (1:1:1). The results indicated significant growth differences in various rooting media, whereas the IBA treatment and its interaction with rooting media were only significant in rooting percentage and height.
Cuttings placed in sand and peat (1:1) mix without IBA treatment had the best results in variables assessed.
This study showed that dune spinach does not require additional growth regulators for root initiation and multiplication.
This could be a cost-saving option for potential urban growers of the species, who may want to exploit this plant for diet diversity and as a source of nutritional substitute for spinach and lettuce.
The dearth of literature on its propagation and cultivation methods has led to its underutilization.
This prompted an investigation on the vegetative propagation of T. decumbens as influenced by rooting media and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) treatment to formulate a viable propagation protocol for potential growers of the species.
Nodal stem cuttings of T. decumbens were obtained from a selected plant population growing along the coast at the Granger Bay campus of the Cape peninsula University of Technology, South Africa.
Stem cuttings of about ±15 cm long with a stem thickness of approximately 8 mm were treated with different concentrations of a commercial growth regulator Dynaroot (containing 0.1% IBA for 1 softwood, 0.3% for 2 semi-hardwood and 0.8% for 3 hardwood) and planted into four different rooting media: sand (S), sand:peat (SP) (1:1), perlite:peat (PP) (1:1) and peat:perlite:vermiculite (PPV) (1:1:1). The results indicated significant growth differences in various rooting media, whereas the IBA treatment and its interaction with rooting media were only significant in rooting percentage and height.
Cuttings placed in sand and peat (1:1) mix without IBA treatment had the best results in variables assessed.
This study showed that dune spinach does not require additional growth regulators for root initiation and multiplication.
This could be a cost-saving option for potential urban growers of the species, who may want to exploit this plant for diet diversity and as a source of nutritional substitute for spinach and lettuce.
Authors
A. Sogoni, M.O. Jimoh, C.P. Laubscher, L. Kambizi
Keywords
wild vegetable, nodal stem cuttings, vegetative propagation, functional food
Groups involved
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
- Working Group Urban Horticulture
- Working Group Landscape Horticulture
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