Production of Seedlings of Fast - Growth Tree of Paulownia elongata S. Y. Hu

Abstract

The major method of propagation of varieties and hybrids of Paulownia elongata is vegetative (asexual)  method. Paulownia elongata can be propagated by macropropagation techniques (root cuttings, green cuttings and by micropropagation technique, tissue culture or in vitro. Today the tissue culture method is the most modern biotechnological method.  In Bosnia and Herzegovina and regions of former Yugoslawia, more and more Paulownia elongata seedlings are being produced and new plantations of Paulownia elongata areestablished. This paper deals with the methods of propagation and problems in raising Paulownia elongata planting materials. The work aims to produce seedlings of fast-growth Paulownia elongata, Shan Tong hybrid and the possibility of  propagation through different methods. Propagation by green cuttings, root cuttings and in vitro propagation was tested.  After 15 days, the percentage of rooting for the green cuttings was 100%, and there were no dead plants, the average number of roots was 13.86 pcs per plant and roots were of different lengths. The length of the cuttings had an impact on the growth of plants because the smallest cuttings was of 1.5 cm (4 pcs from 30 plants or 1.33%), whereas cuttings of 5 cm (26 out of 30 plants or 86.6%), showed the best rooting. For in vitro propagation, meristems of mother plants were used for establishing of tissue culture. The plants showed a survival rate of  80-90% . Production of Paulownia elongata seedlings by different methods of vegetative propagation provides a variety of options to producers, depending on what kind of equipment they have. In vitro production is the most expensive but also the fastest method because a large number of seedlings can be produced in a short time. It is recommended that in vitro propagation should be used to build mother plant stock and that in the coming 2-3 years the green cuttings from super-elite planting material are going to be used.