Genetic Variability in the Propagation of Eucalyptus sideroxylon by Stem Cuttings

Abstract

Stem cuttings from mature trees and coppice regrowth of three red ironbark eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sideroxylon A. Cunn. ex Woolls) genotypes were used to study the rooting response over time. Mature tissues failed to root, but coppice regrowth from the same trees showed a range in rooting response from 0 to nearly 100 percent. The two genotypes that formed adventitious roots maintained this ability for the duration of the study. The one genotype that exhibited the greatest potential for adventitious root formation formed a greater number of roots per cutting and had a greater mean root length.