ABSTRACT

 The effects of rooting hormones on the stem cuttings of Dioscoreophyllum cumminssi, was investigated. A total of sixty-four (64) stem cuttings was obtained from Umuariaga forest Ikwuano and used, consisting of sixteen (16) stem cuttings with one leave node, sixteen stem cuttings with two leaves nodes, sixteen stem cuttings with three leaves nodes and sixteen stem cuttings with four leaves node, were treated with 1mg/ml of indole butyric acid (IBA), 1mg/ml of indole acetic acid (IAA), coconut water (CW), distil water as control, and was dipped into hormones at the basal portion (0.5cm) of each cottons for 5 seconds. The percentage survival of the cuttings, number of new roots formed per cutting, length of new roots formed, and number of new shoot were assessed after 60 days. Results obtained revealed that the species responded differently to the four treatments and significant differences abound between all the treatments. In table (4.1), coconut water (CW) had the highest survivor percentage (70%) and distil water had the lowest mean value (23%). Also, in table (4.2), significant differences abound in the numbers of roots, coconut water extracts had the highest mean value (3.0) and distil water had the least (0.6). In table (4.3), coconut water also had the highest mean value for new shoot but there was significant difference between the values obtained while distil water had the lowest mean value. Results from table (4.4), the root length revealed that IBA had the highest mean value, however no significant difference was observed between IBA and coconut water (CW). Based on the results obtained from this study, it can be concluded that Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii can be propagated vegetatively by rooting its stem cuttings with the aid of rooting substances and the use of natural growth hormone coconut water might enhance the development of the stem cuttings of Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii from the wild.