Propagation of Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' Affected by Cane Position on Stock Plants

Return to: CFREC Home Page

Return to: CFREC Research Index

University of Florida, IFAS,
Central Florida Research and Education Center-Apopka
CFREC-Apopka Research Report RH-92-17

C.A. Conover and R.T. Poole*

Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker-Gawl. 'Massangeana', (corn plant) is propagated by semi-hardwood stem cuttings referred to as cane. Cane are obtained from the long stems of stock plants grown primarily in the Caribbean region, where plants are grown as field crops, much like woody ornamental field production in temperate climates. Stems harvested from stock plants are stripped of leaves, then sectioned into desired lengths, usually ranging from 1 to 5 ft.

Cane propagation performance is variable, not only among cane within individual shipments, but also among cane from different shipments. For some plant species, root production on cuttings obtained in this manner varies according to the cutting's original position on the mother shoot (1, 2, 3). Cutting position is not usually important in easily rooted species but may influence availability, cost and quality for harder to root plants such as corn plant.

As with many other hard to root plants, IBA (indolebutyric acid), dissolved in the alcohol portion of a water/alcohol solution is used to enhance rooting. Alcohol concentration in the propagation dip varies according to individual grower preference. The following research was conducted to determine effects of position on the stem of stock plants and alcohol concentration in IBA propagation dip on corn plant root and shoot growth.

Materials and Methods

Cane utilized in these experiments were harvested from stock plants field grown in a nursery located near Siquirres, Costa Rica (Matas, De Costa Rica S.A., Siquirres, Costa Rica). Healthy stock plants were produced outdoors in the native clay. Irrigation was provided by natural rainfall and plants received 100 lbs N/A/yr from a 1-1-1 (N-P₂O₅-K₂O) fertilizer. Cane sections harvested from stock plants were pre-measured, starting from the apex, so that each section consisted of 5 ft of semi-hardwood propagation material. Cane sections were stacked horizontally on pallets and moved into the processing building. The which prevented drying and splitting during shipment. Cane were placed vertically in crates with 1 inch of moss covering bottoms to maintain high humidity during shipping.

Cane were shipped from Puerto Limon to Miami, Florida in shipping containers loaded on cargo vessels. In Miami cane were transferred to refrigerated trucks for the journey to the University of Florida, IFAS, Central Florida Research and Education Center located at 2807 Binion Road in Apopka, Florida. Air temperatures in containers and trucks were maintained at 62°F. Time elapsed from cane harvest until initiation of experiments was approximately 10 days.

Experiment 1 was initiated on 15 October 1990, the day after cane arrived from Miami. A circular saw was used to remove 0.5 inches from both the top and bottom of each 5 ft section. Sections were then cut into 5 equal lengths approximately 1 ft long. The section containing the youngest growth, and therefore, originally closest to the apex was assigned position 1. Position 2 cane was situated directly below section 1 cane on uncut sections, followed by positions 3, 4 and 5 cane, respectively.

Three to 4 inches of the basal ends of all 1 ft sections were held for approximately 2 seconds in 20/80, 40/60, 60/40 or 80/20% alcohol/water solutions containing 10,000 ppm IBA. Cane were potted in 6 inch containers using mix of 6:3:1 v/v Florida peat:pine bark:builder's sand, amended with 7 lbs dolomite and 1 lb Micromax per yd³, respectively. Cane were rooted on a greenhouse propagation bench where temperatures ranged from 65 to 90°F and maximum light intensity at bench level was 1500 ft-c. Cane were misted manually, 4 times daily, during weekdays only. Containers were top dressed with 5 g/6 inch pot 19-6-12 Osmocote 3 month release rate fertilizer (Grace/Sierra Co., Milpitas, CA 95035) on 14 November 1990.

Number of roots greater than 1 inch, number of shoots and total shoot length of all shoots greater than 1 inch were recorded on 12 March 1991, after cane were maintained in the propagation area for 21 weeks.

Experiment 2 was a repeat of experiment 1 except for time of year cane were propagated and number of fertilizer applications. Containers were top dressed with 5 g 19-6-12/6 inch pot on 31 July 1991, the day the experiment was initiated, and again on 1 November 1991. Growth was determined on 28 December 1991, after cane were maintained in the propagation area for approximately 21 weeks.

Results and Discussion

Number of roots was affected by cutting position in experiment 1 where propagation was initiated in the fall (Table 1). Position 1 cane, sections nearest to terminal ends of stems, rooted easiest, followed by position 5 cane from the basal end of stems. Cane from middle portions of stems rooted more slowly.

Position 1 cane grown in experiment 2 also had more roots, than cane from other positions tested (Table 2). In addition, position 1 cane also had more shoots that grew longer than shoots on cane from positions 2, 3, 4 or 5. As in experiment 1, position 5 cane were next best in overall propagation performance. Cane used in experiment 2, initially placed in propagation area in July, developed roots and shoots faster than cane from experiment 1, which began in October. Results of alcohol treatments were not consistent, but the higher alcohol concentrations in the IBA dip solutions did not affect plant growth.

The root/shoot generation process is initiated in propagation material when cuttings are made. Since about 10 days elapsed from the time cane was cut into 5 foot sections until the time 5 ft cane were cut into 1 foot sections, the growth regulators required for root initiation would already have formed in the basal ends (position 5 cane after 1 ft sections were made). New bud formation would also be well underway in the terminal ends (position 1 cane after 1 ft sections were made). Faster root initiation aids shoot growth and new leaves promote root growth, so that the time lapse during shipment from Puerto Rico may be the cause of best results with the top and bottom sections.

Table 1. Number of roots formed on Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' during propagation affected by position of cane on stock plant. Cane grown from 15 October 1990 until 12 March 1991. Experiment 1.

^zCane sections originally closest to the apex when still attached to stock plants were assigned position 1. Position 2 cane were directly below section 1 cane on stock plants, followed by positions 3, 4 and 5 cane, respectively.
^y***Results significant at P = 0.001.

Table 2. Shoot length, number of shoots and number of roots formed on Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' during propagation affected by position of cane on stock plant. Cane grown from 31 July until 28 December 1991. Experiment 2.

^zCane sections originally closest to the apex when still attached to stock plants were assigned position 1. Position 2 cane were directly below section 1 cane on stock plants, followed by positions 3, 4 and 5 cane, respectively.
^y*, ***Results significant at P = 0.05 and P = 0.001, respectively.

* Professor of Environmental Horticulture and Center Director (retired 7/96), and Professor of Plant Physiology, respectively, Central Florida Research and Education Center, 2807 Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703-8504.

Literature Cited

1. Hansen, J. and E.E. Andersen. 1987. Propagation of Schefflera arboricola by single-node cuttings. Position of cuttings on the mother plant. Gartner Tidende 103(17):491-493.

2. Hartmann, H.T. and R.M. Brooks. 1958. Propagation of Stockton Morello cherry rootstock by softwood cuttings under mist sprays. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 71: 127-134.

3. Loreti, F., and H.T. Hartmann. 1964. Propagation of olive trees by rooting leafy cuttings under mist. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 85:257-264.