ABSTRACT

Comparative study of propagation techniques of Dioscoreaphyllum cumminsii, Ancistrophyllum secundiflorum and Treculia africana was conducted at the Ecological Centre of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, Michael Okapra University of Agriculture, Umudike to determine the suitable propagation techniques used to raise these plant species. A total of 400 seeds each of Dioscoreaphyllum cumminsii, Ancistrophyllum secundiflorum and Treculia africana were broadcasted on a total of twelve (12) germination boxes. A total of 200 stem cuttings each of Dioscoreaphyllum cumminsii, Ancistrophyllum secundiflorum and Treculia africana were planted in polythene bags. Also a total of forty ( 40) tubers of Dioscoreaphyllum cumminsii and 40 suckers of Ancistrophyllum secundiflorum, respectively were planted using polythene bags. Three (3) replicates were used during the study. It was observed that seeds of Dioscoreaphyllum cumminsii and seeds of Ancistrophyllum secundiflorum failed to germinate within I 00 days. Many seeds of Treculia africana germinated within 30 days after broadcast. All the stem cuttings of Treculia africana sprouted.The percent germination of the seeds of Treculia africana were 76.5, 75.5 and 77.5 in the replicate I, II and III. The percent of the stem cuttings of Treculia africana that sprouted were 70.0, 64.0 and 72.0 in the replicate I, II and III. It was observed that the tubers of Dioscoreaphyllum cumminsii and suckers of Ancistrophyllum secundiflorum, respectively sprouted. The percent of the tubers of Dioscoreaphyllum cumminsii that sprouted were 50.0, 57.5 and 72.5 in the replicate I, II, III. The percent of the suckers of Ancistrophyllum secundiflorum that sprouted were 70.0, 50.0 and 62.5 in the replicate I, II and III. It is recommended that industrialists and farmers should propagate seeds and stem cuttings of Treculia africana; tubers of Dioscoreaphyllum cumminsii and suckers of Ancistrophyllum secundiflorum.