Vegetative Propagation of Clones of Ash (Fraxinus exelsior L.), Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) in Britain : Mass Production Technology for Genetically Improved Fast Growing Forest Tree Species

Nangis

Association Foret-Cellulose Paris, IUFRO

1992

S. 371-378

6 Lit. Ang.

Bandaufführung

13158

76092

The Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are jointly funding a research project on the vegetative propagation of fast growing broadleaved species as part of a programme on their improvement for use in British farm woodlands. Ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) are the main species being studied; some work is also being done on sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.). The rooting of leafy summer cuttings has been compared in three propagation environments: standard mist benches, mist enclosed in a polythene tent, and cuttings covered by polythene film. Greatest rooting of sycamore occurred in the two mist systems (average 78%), whereas ash and sweet chestnut rooted best in the enclosed mist system (64% and 46% respectively). Average rooting percentages under enclosed mist for material collected from selected trees in the field were 26% for ash (n=86), 45% for sycamore (n=93) and 57% for sweet chestnut (n=15). There appeared to be differences in rooting ability between clones.