Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2004: 6(2): 35-38

Effects of lateral shading on growth and morphology of shoots and rooting ability of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) cuttings

Hossain, M A; Kamaluddin, M

Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.

The study considers the effect of different levels of shade on growth and morphology of shoots and rooting ability of cuttings developed from decapitated ground layered stock plants. Two-year-old seedling-originated stock plants of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) were decapitated at the tip and layered on ground. Shoots were allowed to develop at three levels of shade: vegetational shade (75% of full sun), lateral shade (40% of full sun) and overhead shade (10% of full sun). Different levels of shade significantly affected the growth and morphology of shoots. Active bud percentages as well as number of shoots produced per stock plant with longer internodes were significantly higher in lateral shade. Rooting percentages of cuttings obtained from the shoots of vegetational, lateral and overhead shade were 80, 87 and 90, respectively. The maximum number of roots (6.2) and root dry mass (20.7 mg) were found in cuttings obtained from lateral shade, followed by overhead shade. The results are discussed in the context of cutting yield for mass clonal propagation and the need for manipulation of light environment for shoot production.