Abstract-

No abstract

Stem cutting propagation preserves the genetic traits and leads to transfer of superior and genetically similar traits of parent plants to progenies. This method is also used to propagate recalcitrant, nonviable and difficult to germinateseeds. Stem cutting in tree species is used to address phenological and intraclonal problems. The use of rubber cuttings as planting material is a feasible option, worthy of investigation. There has been little or no research studies into the usage of Hevea brasiliensis stem cuttings as an alternative vegetative propagation method for an in vivo propagation of rubber tree in Ghana. Propagation of H. brasiliensis by stem cutting techniques was used to study alternative procedures for mass production of rubber planting materials. Brown and green rubber stem cuttings of Clone I and Clone II were soaked for 6 hours in 0.0-22.5g/L Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) followed by propagation in a nursery bag filled with nutrient-rich soil. Only the brown stem cuttings of H. brasiliensis survived. The percent survival, length of shoots, number of roots as well as length of roots of Clone II was significantly (P<0.05) higher than Clone I. Rubber stem cuttings treated with 15.0g/L NAA significantly (P<0.05) developed higher shoots (83.33%),number of roots (6.167), length of shoots (15.38cm) and length of roots (6.00cm) than the remaining treatments. There was significant (P<0.05) effects of NAA and Clone II in sprouting and rooting growth of the brown stem cuttings. Successful in vivo propagation of rubber tree(H. brasiliensis)was achieved.

Purpose: Genetic makers are indispensable in the genetic quantifi cation and characterization of plant species of which rubber tree is no exception. Markers have been used severally in genetic identifi cation and diversity analysis of rubber tree species. However, in Ghana genetic diversity and relatedness among introduced rubber tree species are limited. The study is aimed to use microsatellite markers to assess the genetic variability and evaluate genetic relationships among clones of Hevea brasiliensis cultivated in Ghana. Research Method: Genomic DNA was extracted from fresh rubber leaves following the Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) protocol. The fi ve (5) diff erent SSR primers used for the analysis were hmct1, hmac4, hmct5, gSSR212 and gSSR194.