Propagation for conserving endangered taxol producing tree Taxus sumatrana through shoot cuttings technique

Abstract

Abstract Taxus sumatrana or commonly known as Sumatran yew is native endangered taxol producing trees from Indonesia and promising drug for cancer source. Due to very limited and restricted natural growing habitat, small population size and the tendency of habitat deterioration, their sustainable occurrence is facing a serious threats. Urgent task for conserving this species was needed. Shoot cutting is promising methods for solving natural regeneration problems of this species. This research was conducted to determine appropriate shoot cutting technique for propagating the species and hence conserving Sumatran yew. Completely Randomized Design Factorial with 2 factors and 20 replications was used in this research. The first factor was cutting medium the second factor was auxin addition. The observed parameters were survival rate, rooting percentage, primary root number and primary root length. The result showed that the percentage of rooted cuttings were varied from 50 to 65 percent depend on the treatment. Cutting media and auxin treatment significantly only affected primary root number. Combination of soil and husk with auxin addition produced the highest rooting percentage.