Vegetative multiplication of a Sahelian woody forage species through suckering: the example of Maerua crassifolia Forssk., Capparaceae.

摘要

The suckering of Maerna crassifolia was assessed in May 2004 in plantations established in 1992 and 1998. The inventory and the characterization of the saplings in the vicinity of planted trees revealed that 92% of them come from suckers while only 8% are seedlings. The suckers are found very near the mother plant (<20 cm), while the seed-based plants are generally situated farther away (>40 cm). The rooting of the suckers is more superficial. The suckers listed are found to be more dependent on the mother plant with their superficial roots situated in the soil no deeper than the first 10 cm. Suckers can easily be obtained by induction from root injuries or root segments cultivated in pots (>81%). Suckering is therefore an appropriate technique for encouraging the propagation of a species whose seeds remain rarely intact..