Effect of Growth Media on Rooting of Queen of the Philippine (Mussaenda philippica A. Rich)

Abstract

Experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of four growth media (topsoil-control, river sand, topsoil + sawdust and topsoil + poultry manure) on rooting characteristics of the two varieties of Queen of the Philippines ( Mussaenda philippica ) in the year 2001 and 2002 at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Stem cuttings of Queen of the Philippines ( Mussaenda philippica ) were grown in each of the four sterilized media in polyethylene pots using factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with five replicates. Data were recorded on root length, root dry weight, number of days to rooting, number of rooted cuttings and percent of plant survival after transplanting and number of roots per rooted cuttings. Data generated were subjected to analysis of variance, significant of treatment means was tested using least significant difference at 5% level and correlation analysis was carried out. The result shows that, variety had significant (P Mussaenda philippica ), irrespective of the growing media. Pink variety performed better than the white variety in terms of earliness to rooting, number of roots per cutting and percent rooted cuttings. Cuttings raised in river sand medium rooted earliest with the highest number of roots per cuttings compared with other media. The interaction effect of variety and growing media on root length and percent rooted cuttings were significant (P former performed better than the latter and that river sand medium enhanced rooting better than other media.