Rating the conservation potential of Tecomella undulata using macropropagation techniques for sustainable restoration

Abstract

Tecomella undulata (Bignoniaceae) is a valuable multipurpose agroforestry tree species prized for its high-quality timber, medicinal properties, soil-binding capacity, and effectiveness as a windbreak. However, overexploitation, habitat degradation, and poor natural regeneration have led to a decline in its natural populations, highlighting the need for efficient vegetative propagation techniques to support its conservation and large-scale cultivation. This study evaluated the macropropagation potential of stem cuttings treated with Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at concentrations of 4000 and 6000 ppm, applied individually and in combination. Seven treatments, including an untreated control, were evaluated under field conditions at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Stem cuttings treated with IAA at 6000 ppm exhibited the highest sprouting percentage (62.5%) and the earliest leaf emergence, indicating its effectiveness in promoting bud break and shoot development. In contrast, the combined application of IAA and IBA resulted in the lowest sprouting percentage (0.4%). The IAA 6000 ppm treatment also recorded the highest survival rate (8.3%) and the lowest mortality rate (16.7%). However, none of the treatments induced root formation. These findings suggest that IAA at 6000 ppm is the most effective treatment for enhancing sprouting and survival in T. undulata stem cuttings. Nevertheless, further research is required to optimize rooting protocols and establish an efficient clonal propagation system for the conservation and sustainable utilization of this threatened species.