Vegetative propagation of Rambutan (Nepheliumlappaceum) by marcotting: effect of indole-3-butyric acid concentration

Rambutan tree (Nepheliumlappaceum L.) is an important but a lesser known fruit tree in Ghana and has several nutritional and medicinal uses. Efforts to establish plantation of Rambutan in Ghana to ensure its sustainable use is challenged with unavailable planting materials because the seeds are recalcitrant in nature, loses viability easily when exposed to dryness. Seeds are therefore sown directly after extraction from fruit, even with this, most of the seeds do not germinate. A vegetative propagation technique by marcotting was devised to produce planting materials within 3 months. Four plant species of the same physiological age and spaced 4m apart were tested in complete random design fashion. Marcots were treated with four Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) concentrations (0 Mg/L, 2000 Mg/L, 4000 Mg/L and 6000 Mg/L). Data collected were analysed on number of calluses formed in marcots, survival, shoot and root formation and root length. Comparable but highest survival of marcots was recorded in the 2000 Mg/L of IBA (14.67 +0.33) representing 97.78%. Marcots with 2000 Mg/L IBA concentration recorded highest mean number of roots (8.67 +0.33) formed. Root length ranged from 33.60 +0.52 in the 6000 Mg/L to 19.77 +1.26 in the control (0 Mg/L). Marcots with no IBA recorded 9.00 +0.58 as mean number of callused marcots. It is concluded that vegetative propagation technique by marcotting can be a suitable technique for Rambutan planting materials.