Air layering and tiny-air layering techniques for mesquite [Prosopis laevigata (H. B. ex Willd.) Johnst. M. C.] tree propagation.

摘要

Prosopis laevigata is commonly known in Mexico as mesquite, and it is mostly found in the Central Mexican States. Mesquite has been driven to scarcity because the local population has used it for different purposes. Therefore, efficient, inexpensive, and reliable propagation methods are an aim to preserve and increase the mesquite resources. Air layering (treatment applied to young 1-1.2 m-long and 1.0-1.5.0 cm-wide branches) and tiny-air layering (applied to young 25-30 cm-long and 0.3-0.5 cm-wide branches) were investigated as asexual mesquite propagation methods. IBA (100, 250, and 500 mg l-1); NAA (50, 100, and 250 mg l-1); IAA (100, 250, and 500 mg l-1); and 2,4-D (100 and 1000 mg l-1) were used for the air layering method, whereas for the tiny-air layering protocol IBA (0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mg l-1) alone or combined with Chrysal were utilized. The highest response (90%) of air layerings was obtained with 500 mg l-1 IBA, having an average number of 1,785 roots per layering. For the tiny-air layering method, the best treatment was 3.0 mg l-1 IBA + Chrysal, which induced 90% of rooting, with an average number of 31.8 roots per layering.