Enhancing Timber and Medicinal Plant Resources: Propagation Techniques for Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss. in Tropical Regions

Abstract

Human uses the resources of tropical forests, which contain great biological diversity, for food, traditional and commercial purposes, including on an international scale. Some species have been exploited for timber production. The aim of this work was to identify the best part of the shoot for regeneration of Khaya senegalensis in the two seedling sebstrates. This work will provide a database for the regeneration and domestication of forest products, with Khaya senegalensis as a model plant. It is one of the medicinal and timber species on which sustained attention and priority actions should be focused. The main objective of this study was to determine whether this plant, with its high health value, can be regenerated by cuttings. The set-up comprised 180 bags arranged in a random block of 90 bags for each of the seeding substrates (black earth and red earth). The results showed that regeneration by cuttings is possible in the substrates. Old cuttings showed the best viability rates, at 70% and 43.33% for black earth and red earth substrates respectively. The best regeneration percentage was observed for aged cuttings (36.66% and 20%). These results showed variability in length and collar diameter according to cutting type and substrate. Of the three types of explants tested, the old part of the stem proved better than the young and intermediate parts. However, it would be interesting to improve the rate of regeneration and rooting of cuttings by using vegetative hormones.