Adventitious rooting of mature Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill (Cycadales: Cycadaceae) tree stems reveals moderate success for salvage of an endangered cycad

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Published: Aug 26, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3523.9.8.10565-10570
Keywords:
Adaptive management, Aulacaspis yasumatsui, conservation genetics, cycad, Rhyzobius lophanthae.

Main Article Content

Thomas Edward Marler
Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, UOG Station, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96923, USA
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7348-2632
Gil Naputi Cruz
1,2 Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, UOG Station, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96923, USA
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5361-4004

Abstract

Mature Cycas micronesica trees were among the forest trees that were destined to be removed from a 2012 construction site in northern Guam.  Forty-nine of these trees were cut at the base and transported to nursery conditions to determine if adventitious root development could be stimulated as a means of saving the trees.  Fungicide and auxin were applied to the base of each stem, and perlite was used as the container medium.  A nursery maintained by an experienced cycad horticulturist yielded 41% survival, but half of the rooted plants exhibited severe stem dieback.  A nursery maintained by general plant nursery specialists without cycad experience resulted in 100% mortality.  If numerous caveats are acknowledged, whole-tree stem cuttings may yield moderate success for saving C. micronesica trees from construction sites when adequate resources are appropriated to support the nursery phase with experienced cycad biologists. 

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 9 No. 8 (2017)
Section
Short Communications

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Author Biographies

Thomas Edward Marler, Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, UOG Station, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96923, USA

Terrestrial Ecologist in western Pacific oceanic island nations

Gil Naputi Cruz, 1,2 Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, UOG Station, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96923, USA

Gil Cruz is Agricultural Research Technician Leader and has supported cycad projects for 15 years.

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