Vegetative propagation of Arizona sycamore (Platanus wrightii) by cuttings

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine potential propagation of Arizona sycamore (Platanus wrightii) from cuttings for use in riparian revegetation projects. Cuttings gathered from trees in Superior, Arizona during Fall 1988 and Spring 1989, and from Madera Canyon near Tucson, Arizona in Fall 1989 were treated with various concentrations of indolebutyric acid (IBA). In all studies, numbers of rooted cuttings decreased when concentrations of greater than 5,000 ppm IBA were used. Cuttings from young trunk sprouts in Fall 1988 had a higher rooting frequency than cuttings from other source trees and produced the greatest number and the longest roots in Spring 1989. In Fall 1989, plastic pots with a 1:1 perlite:vermiculite media resulted in higher rooting frequencies than when peat was incorporated into the media. While cuttings in all studies successfully rooted in the greenhouse, no plants survived outplanting on a 160 m elevation floodplain. Propagation of Arizona sycamore is more difficult than that of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) of Goodings willow (Salix goodingii) but cuttings will root with careful attention in the greenhouse.