Influence of Exogenous 6-Benzylaminopurine on Growth, Physiological Parameters, Proximate Content and Mineral Element Composition of Pot-Grown Solanecio biafrae

The influences of exogenous 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) on shoot emergence, growth, fresh shoot weight, physiological parameters, proximate and mineral element contents of green-stemmed morphotype of Solanecio biafrae at early stage were investigated. Stem-cuttings were sprayed with solution containing concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 mg L-1) of BAP a day after planting in plastic pots. Medium (60-70 mg L-1) BAP promoted highest number of shoot per stem-cutting, total number of leaves, total leaf area, shoot to root ratio, total soluble sugars, ash, carbohydrate, leaf Mg and Ca. Intermodal length, phenolic, crude fibre, leaf Na, P and Zn increased as BAP concentration increased. Shoot height, dry weight, chlorophylls a and b, total soluble protein, moisture, crude protein, fresh shoot weight and leaf Fe did not differ significantly (P>0.05) at medium to high (50-100 mg L-1) concentrations of BAP. The study concluded that 60 mg L-1 BAP is the best concentration as it promoted highest number of shoot per stem-cutting, total number of leaves, total leaf area, shoot height, dry weight, fresh shoot weight, shoot to root ratio, chlorophyll a and b, phenolics, total soluble sugars and proteins, crude protein, fat, ash and carbohydrate, leaf K, Mg and Ca.