Hilario G. Gavan III, Ryan Sherwin D. Jalandoni , Dan Lemuel S. Salado (MArch 2014)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Pterocarpus indicus (narra) and Vitex parviflora (Mohave) are tree species native in the Philippines. They are widely used in reforestation projects due to their status of being endangered. Both could be reproduced through sexual and asexual propagation; however, the supply of their seeds is limited for sexual propagation. Asexual propagation involves alternative planting materials such as cuttings, which has a low survival rate. To facilitate high survival and better growth of the cuttings, the application of root growth hormone is essential. An auxin is a plant hormone specifically for root growth. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), an auxin, was used in this study. The root growth potential was used to determine the effect of naphthalene acetic acid on the root growth of the cuttings. This study determined and compared the root growth potential of narra and molave with and without the application of naphthalene acetic acid. The root growth potential was determined by the analysis on the number of roots and the length of the longest root shoot of the cutting 6 weeks after planting. Results show that naphthalene acetic acid do not significantly increase the root growth potential of the narra cuttings while it increases the root growth potential of the molave cuttings.