Effect of mini-cutting size on adventitious rooting and morphophysiological quality of Ilex paraguariensis plantlets

As the energizing and therapeutic effects of infusions of mate(Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil)leaves are increasingly recognized,rising global consumption is also increasing the demand for plantlets with high genetic and morphological qualities.Mini-cuttings are an alternative for clonal plantlets;however,more details are needed on factors that affect the success of this technique.Here,toward maximizing production,we evaluated adventitious rooting competence of mini-cuttings of different sizes and the morphophysiological quality of the resultant plantlets.Small(one bud;length up to 2.5 cm),medium(multiple buds;length 2.6–5.0 cm),and large(multiple buds;length 5.1–10.0 cm)mini-cuttings were planted in a mixture of commercial substrate,vermiculite,and coarse sand(1:1:1 v:v:v),grown in a humidity chamber,then evaluated after 45,60,75,and 90 days for survival,percentage of callus and shoot formation,number and length of shoots,percentage of rooted cuttings,and number and length of roots.Any rooted mini-cuttings were then cultivated in commercial substrate and subsurface soil(2:1 v:v)and evaluated after 30,60,90 and 120 days of cultivation for morphophysiology of the plantlets,percentage of survival,number of leaves,shoot height,stem diameter,and ratio of shoot height to stem diameter.After 120 days,the plantlets were evaluated for the ratio of shoot and root dry mass,total length,surface area,total volume,and mean diameter of roots and Dickson quality index.Adventitious rooting of the mini-cuttings and the morphophysiological quality of the plantlets were not influenced by the size of the vegetative propagule.Therefore,single-bud mini-cuttings have similar adventitious rooting competence,and result in plantlets with adequate morphophysiological quality,based upon leaf development,shoot height,stem diameter and length,and surface area,volume and diameter of roots.Single-bud mini-cuttings up to 2.5 cm long can thus be used to maximize production of mate plantlets by mini-cuttings.

Genetic Variation in Tropical Tree Species and Plantations: A Review

The global efforts to restore tropical forests and their productive and ecological functions through plantation forestry largely depend on the available genetic variation in the tree species used to establish the plantations. However, there is limited information on the levels and trends of the genetic variation and variability of different plantation tree species in the tropics. Therefore, this study reviews several marker-based studies that have investigated genetic variation. Most of the top economic species like Eucalyptus tereticornis and Mansonia altissima are attributed to low levels of genetic diversity, while others like Pinus caribaea and Swietenia macrophylla still exhibit high expected heterozygosity across different populations. However, the levels of genetic diversity assessed may depend on the markers used. Microsatellites, i.e., simple sequence repeats (SSRs), mostly give higher estimates when compared to other polymerase chain reaction-based markers. Other factors that typically contribute to the directional pattern of genetic variation in tropical tree species and populations include their distribution, density, seed dispersal, succession, and reproduction. Also, anthropogenic impacts like logging and fragmentation have contributed to the vast genetic base reduction of many tropical species and populations. Having adequate genetic variation within the plantation populations is significant in improving their fitness, resilience, fecundity, productivity, and other ecological functions. It also provides a basis for tree improvement and breeding in plantation forests. Although clonal forestry is becoming widespread and considered highly productive, it is attributed to specific economic, technical, and ecological risks, such as the increased spread of pests and diseases. Therefore, further discussions and recommendations to maximise genetic diversity in tropical (clonal) plantations are provided.