Int. J. Biosci.

2018

International Journal of Biosciences | IJB |

ISSN: 2220-6655 (Print), 2222-5234 (Online)
http://www.innspub.net
Vol. 13, No. 1, p. 1-9, 2018

RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS

Rooting performance of bahai (Ormosia calavensis Azaola ex Blanco)

and Bakan (Litsea philippinensis Merr.) As affected by different
concentrations of indole-3-Butyric acid (IBA)

Rico A. Marin*, Mel Kevin C. Agunias, Michael Arieh P. Medina, Joseph C. Paquit

College of Forestry and Environmental Science, Central Mindanao University, Philippines

Key words: Macro-somatic propagation, Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), Rooting performance.

http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/13.1.1-9 Article published on July 15, 2018

Abstract

A macro-somatic propagation study was conducted to assess the effects of rooting hormone and the level of
concentration to the rooting performance of Bahai (Ormosia calavensis Azaola ex Blanco) and Bakan
(Litsea philippinensis Merr.). The study was carried out in the clonal nursery of Central Mindanao
University, Msuan, Bukidnon, Philippines. The experimental design used was the 2 x 4 factorial experiment
arranged in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) replicated five times. The two tree species served as
Factor A: Bahai and Bakan; while levels of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) served as Factor B: control – no
auxin , 100 ppm, 300 ppm, and 500 ppm. Findings show that Bahai cuttings exhibited statistically higher
rooting performance compared to Bakan in terms of root length and number of roots treated with 300 ppm
of IBA. Data show that Bahai had an average root length of 2.042 cm compared to Bakan with only 1.355
cm. For the number of roots, Bahai had an average of 1.855 compared to Bakan with 1.376. Between the two
species used, Bahai showed higher survival rate of 84.42% compared to 57.63% for Bakan. Findings suggest
that both species can be treated with 300 ppm of IBA to enhance higher rooting percentage where it
produces greater number and longer length of roots. It is recommended that Bahai and Bakan tree species
can be potential species for propagation using macro-somatic technologies.
* Corresponding Author: Rico A. Marin  [email protected]

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Introduction Experimental design

The use of conservation programs have been The experiment was set up in a 2 × 4 factorial
anticipated to promote conservation and cultivation experiment arranged in Complete Randomized
of tree species through the use of proper vegetative Design with five (5) replications. The stem cuttings of
propagation technique asexual propagation is one of the two species were distributed randomly in each
the best methods to maintain existence of some block with 10 samples per experimental unit. There
species and improve or sustain its quality. Cloning is a
were a total of 8 treatment combination (2 Factor A ×
process by which individual organisms are multiplied
4 Factor B) which were replicated five (5) times. Since
asexually - a process of vegetative regeneration or
there were 10 cuttings in an experimental unit, a total
reproduction (Longman, 1993). Cloning process can
of 400 cuttings were observed throughout the
be both done naturally and artificially. The process of
research study.
vegetative regeneration can be produced in two ways.
One of which involves the relatively new processes of
micro-propagation which have arisen from the Preparation of the Rooting Hormone

development of modern biotechnology, and the other Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) was used as the hormone

one is involving the more traditional techniques of for Bahai (O. calavensis Azaola ex Blanco) and Bakan
macro-propagation (Leakey, 2014). (L. philippinensis Merr.). The concentration levels of
IBA were: 100, 300 and 500 ppm. This was done by
In the Philippines, the use of macro-propagation adding 1 ml, 3 ml, and 5 ml of IBA per liter of distilled
techniques has not been practiced in most of the water. To dissolve the hormone, a drop of 70%
native tree species. Yet, native tree species become alcohol was added to the solution. Each hormone
increasingly important in land rehabilitation activities solution was dispensed in properly-labelled
(Butterfield, 1995). In this study, two of the less containers ready for use.
known native tree species in the country were studied
for macro-somatic propagation. These are Bahai
Preparation of Cuttings
(Ormosia calavensis Azaola ex Blanco) and Bakan
Cuttings of Bahai (O. calavensis Azaola ex Blanco)
(Litsea philippinensis Merr.) of which at present,
were collected from a mother tree located at the
clonal propagation protocol for such species are yet to
Central Mindanao University-Swine Production
be established. Clonal techniques, therefore, would
Project. The Bakan (L. philippinensis Merr.) cuttings
promote conservation of these species by increasing
were collected from the hardened seedlings as serial
its population and at the same time maintain or
improve its quality. Results of the study would also be cuttings at the Central Mindanao University Clonal

useful to future researchers and farmers who would Nursery of the College of Forestry and Environmental

work and venture into tree farming using the said Science. The cuttings were collected using a sharp
species. pruning shear to an average length of three inches
with at least three fully-developed leaves.
Materials and methods
Location of the Study Site The main stem of the planting stocks were cut across
The experiment was carried out under a close misting the third node down the apex using a pair of pruning
propagation chamber of Central Mindanao scissor. Leaves were trimmed to reduce the leaf size to
University, Clonal Nursery of the College of Forestry approximately ⅓ of the original size following the
and Environmental Science. The propagation bed was
methods used by Leakey et al. (1982). To avoid
filled with screened sand as the rooting media. The
contamination during preparation, disinfection was
sand was thoroughly washed and treated with
done to all the materials by soaking the cuttings in a
fungicide to protect the experimental materials from
basin with fungicide solution.
diseases.

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Basal long soaked method differences of the parameters of the study. The
The basal parts of Bahai and Bakan cuttings were difference of means was done using Tukey’s Test.
soaked into the rooting hormone for 1 hour, except for
the control where cuttings were only soaked in tap Results and discussion
water. The cuttings were then planted following the Bahai (O. calavensis Azaola ex Blanco) cuttings
experimental lay-out. significantly produced longer roots with mean length
of 2.042 cm as compared to Bakan (L. philippinensis
Data collection and statistical analysis Merr.) with only 1.355 cm (Figure 1). This result
The research study was conducted for a period of two maybe attributed to the fact that Bahai is a sun-
months. Upon the termination of the study, data on demanding species, as stated by Milan (undated) and
root length, number of roots (callused and rooted), since the study was conducted during summer season
survival rate and root biomass were collected. The when it is more favorable for the Bahai cuttings to
collected data were subjected to Analysis of Variance root naturally.
(ANOVA) using MStatC to determine the significant

Table 1. Mean root length of Bahai and Bakan species as affected by different concentrations of IBA.
Treatment Mean root length
A. Factor A
Species
Bahai 2.042a
Bakan 1.355b

Level of Significance **
Coefficient of Variation 41.01

B. Factor B
Concentration level

No auxin (control) 1.263b

100 ppm 1.668ab
300 ppm 2.253a
500 ppm 1.610ab

Level of Significance *
Coefficient of Variation 41.01
C. Interaction
Treatment

S1C1 1.684
S1C2 2.404
S1C3 2.250
S1C4 1.830
S2C1 0.842
S2C2 0.932
S2C3 2.256
S2C4 1.390

Level of Significance ns
Coefficient of Variation 41.01%

Mean length of roots with the same letter are not significantly different from each other using Tukeys at 1% level.
Legend; ** = highly significant, * = significant, ns = not significant S1 = Bahai, S2 = Bakan, C1 = 0 ppm, C2 = 100
ppm, C3 = 300 ppm, C4 = 500 ppm.

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On the IBA concentration level, 300 ppm obtained show significant differences on the species and the
the highest root length of 2.253 cm, followed by 100 levels of concentration for the mean length of roots.
ppm, 500 ppm and 0 ppm (Control) with 1.668 cm, The use of rooting hormone in stimulating longer root
1.610 cm and 1.263 cm, respectively (Table 1). Results production was useful.

Table 2. Mean root biomass of Bahai and Bakan species as affected by different concentrations of IBA.
Treatment Mean root biomass
A. Factor A
Species
Bahai 0.734
Bakan 0.734

Level of Significance ns
Coefficient of Variation 13.16

B. Factor B
Concentration Levels

No auxin (control) 0.721

100 ppm 0.735
300 ppm 1.768
500 ppm 1.712

Level of Significance ns
Coefficient of Variation 13.16

C. Interaction
Treatment Combination

S1C1
S1C2
S1C3 0.722
S1C4 0.752
S2C1 0.772
S2C2 0.690
S2C3 0.720
S2C4 0.718
0.764
Level of Significance 0.734
Coefficient of Variation ns
13.16 %

Mean length of roots with the same letter are not significantly different from each other using Tukey at 1% level.
Legend; ** = highly significant, * = significant, ns = not significant S1 = Bahai, S2 = Bakan, C1 = 0 ppm, C2 = 100
ppm, C3 = 300 ppm, C4 = 500 ppm.

The findings from this study conform with Elhaak et rooting when compared with non-treated controls,
al. (2015) who reported that Rosmarinos officinalis however, high concentrations of applied auxin are
presoaked with IBA for 1 hour increased the root often damaging (Loach, 1988). High concentration of
length by 17 % in comparison with the control. the hormone may produce growth abnormalities and
Nevertheless, research findings tend to agree in two probably hinders the root formation for some tree
respects that auxins are promotive of adventitious species. Successful root formation depends upon

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many factors like season and time of cutting, portion hormones, growing media, moisture level, nutrient
and diameter of stem, treatment of the rooting status and temperature.

Table 3. Percent survival (%) Bahai and Bakan species as affected by different concentrations of IBA.
Treatment Percent survival
A. Factor A
Species
Bahai 84.42a
Bakan 57.63b

Level of Significance **
Coefficient of Variation 28.24 %

B. Factor B
Concentration Levels

59.52
No auxin (control)
65.63
100 ppm
78.05
300 ppm
80.92
500 ppm

ns
Level of Significance
28.24 %
Coefficient of Variation

C. Interaction
Treatment Combination
34.84
S1C1 41.85
S1C2 45.99
S1C3 46.17
S1C4 24.68
S2C1 23.78
S2C2 32.06
S2C3 34.75
S2C4
ns
Level of Significance 28.24 %
Coefficient of Variation
Mean length of roots with the same letter are not significantly different from each other using Tukey at 1% level.
Legend; ** = highly significant, * = significant, ns = not significant S1 = Bahai, S2 = Bakan, C1 = 0 ppm, C2 = 100
ppm, C3 = 300 ppm, C4 = 500 ppm.

Meanwhile, there is no significant interaction effect mean number of roots with 1.855 compared to Bakan
between the species used and the level of hormone (L. philippinensis Merr.) with only 1.376. This
concentration as shown in Table 1. However, it suggests that Bahai cuttings had a better rooting
revealed that Bahai and Bakan treated with 300 ppm performance compared to Bakanin terms of mean
of IBA produced the longest roots with means of number of roots. Furthermore, the capacity of Bahai
2.250 cm and 2.256 cm, respectively.
to form adventitious roots is greater than Bakan was
due to the reason that Bahai is a sun-demanding
As shown in Figure 1, a significant difference was
observed between the two species used. Bahai (O. species compared to Bakan, hence the better response

calavensis Azaola ex Blanco) cuttings had higher of Bahai in terms of roots formaton.

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Fig. 1. Graphical presentation on mean number of roots of Bahai (O. calavensis Azaola ex Blanco) and
Bakan (L. philippinensis Merr.).

The success of Bakancuttings to form adventitious the temperature of the plant decreases. More
roots may have been affected by the temperature reduction on temperature level affects the rate of
inside the rooting chamber. When the temperature photosynthesis, which is the ability of the plant to
got too high, plant tissues deteriorated, resulting in a produce energy. This loss of energy directly affects the
decrease in respiration. Respiration decreases when formation of roots (Haskell, undated).

Fig. 2. Graphical presentation on the mean number of roots in response to the level of concentrations.

In terms of the levels of concentration, 300 ppm had With regards to the mean root biomass, findings
the highest mean number of roots with 1.835, showed no significant differences among treatment
followed by 500 ppm, 0 ppm (control) and 100 ppm means as shown in Table 2. However, both of the
with 1.620, 1.559 and 1.449, respectively (Figure 2). species had similar weight of 0.734 g.

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Fig. 3. Graphical presentation on the mean percent survival of Bahai (O. calavensis Azaola ex Blanco) and
Bakan (L. philippinensis Merr.).

This may due to the varying characteristics of the

roots and of the two species. Roots of Bahai were thin,
long, white in color and hydrophilic in nature while
roots of Bakan were large, short, dark in color, turgid,
and hydrophobic in nature. Thus, during oven drying,
roots of Bahai tend to lose more moisture because of
its root characteristics.

In terms of the levels of concentration, 300 ppm had

the highest mean root biomass with 1.768 g, followed
by 500 ppm, 100 ppm and 0 ppm (control) with 1.712
g, 0.735 g and 0.721 g, respectively. Meanwhile, there
was no significant interaction between the species
used and the level of IBA concentration (Table 2).
However, it reveals that Bahai and Bakan treated with
300 ppm IBA produced the heavier mean root
biomass.

Bahai had higher percent survival with 84.42 %

compared to Bakan with only 57.63 % (Figure 3). Fig. 4. Bahai (O. calavensis) cuttings treated with IBA
at four level of concentrations (a) no auxin (control), (b)
Bahaiwas on its best condition to propagate and
100 ppm, (c) 300 ppm and (d) 500 ppm.
respond well to the rooting hormone used in the
study. However, it showed no significant differences
The result was supported by Elhaak et al. (2015) that
among the concentration levels. The highest percent
lesser percent survival was observed under the
survival was observed at 500 ppm with 80.92 %,
control (0 ppm) while it increased upon IBA
followed by the 300 ppm with 78.05 % while the 100 application. A study conducted by Akwatulira et al.
ppm and 0 ppm (control) had 65.63 % and 59.52 %, (2011) revealed that stem cuttings of Warburgia
respectively (Table 3). Findings shows that increasing ugandensis propagated in sand produced the least
IBA concentration also increases the survivability of percentage and number of roots per rooted stem
the plant. cutting.

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 Int. J. Biosci. 2018

Among the two native tree species, Bahai (O.

calavensis Azaola ex Blanco) cuttings exhibited better
rooting performance based on the length of the roots,
number of roots and percent survival.

The 500 ppm concentration gave and exhibited

greater survivability for the two species. On the other
hand, the 300 ppm concentration exhibited better
rooting performance in terms of number and length.
Both indigenous tree species are potential for macro-
somatic propagation technology to produce quality
planting materials.

Acknowledgment
The authors wish to thank Central Mindanao
University for allowing them to use the clonal
facilities of the institution. Likewise, the authors
would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Fig. 5. Bakan (L. philippinensis Merr.) cuttings treated for partially funding this research endeavor.
with IBA at four levels of concentration (a) no auxin
(control), (b) 100 ppm, (c) 300 ppm and(d) 500 ppm. References
Agbo CU, Omaliko CM. 2006. Initiation and
This result was interesting given that high rooting growth of shoots of Gongronema latifolia Benth stem
percentage have been obtained from Bahai cuttings in different rooting media. Afr. J. Biotechnol.
propagated in sand media but having a similar 5(5), 425-428.
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Akwatulira F, Gwali S, Okullo JBL, SSEGAWA

Sand was also identified as the best rooting medium P, Tumwebaze SB, Mbwambo JR, Muchugi A.

for Gongronema latifilia stem cuttings by Agbo and 2011. Influence of rooting media and indole-3-butyric

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response to different rooting media as was reported formation of Warburgia ugandensis stem cuttings.
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