INFLUENCE OF AUXINS ON ROOTING STEM CUTTINGS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM IN DRY AND WET SEASONS

The study was designed to evaluate the influence of three types of auxins: Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) and, Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) at four concentrations (0mg/l, 100mg/l, 300mg/l and 500mg/l) and two seasons (dry and wet) on rooting mature stem cuttings of Moringa oleifera. The experiment was 3×4×2 factorial laid in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The findings of this study show that, M oleifera can be propagated vegetatively by rooting the stem cuttings with auxins. The results of the developmental phases of the stem cuttings prior to rooting significantly (P>0.05) showed variations due to auxin concentrations and seasons. Stem cuttings treated with the higher concentration of the three auxins (500ppm of IBA, NAA and IAA) showed that wet season stem cuttings sprouted earlier (18-27 days after planting, DAP) than the dry season stem cuttings (24-30 DAP). The results also showed that auxin application and seasons influenced higher bud development into leaves in the wet than in the dry season (2.0% - 83.4% wet season and, 10% - 56.08% dry season). It was also observed that, untreated (control) stem cuttings and those treated with 100mg/l and 300mg/l did not root in the dry season trial. While lateral roots were observed on stem cuttings across the treatments in the wet season, only those treated with 500mg/l of the auxins produced tap roots with IAA proving most effective. Therefore, rooting stem cuttings of M. oleifera with 500mg/l of IAA during the wet season is recommended.