Strategies for the conservation of Warburgia salutaris (family: Canellaceae), a red data list species - development of propagation methods
2016
Warburgia salutaris (family: Canellaceae), or pepperbark tree, is one of the most highly prized tree species in South Africa. It is widely used owing to its sought-after medicinal properties. In the Kruger National Park, illegal bark harvesting is being practiced and rangers are used to protect known stands of trees to prevent total destruction of the remaining population. The bark is harvested non-sustainably and trees are effectively ring-barked resulting in death of the trees several months after harvesting. In order to conserve the species and to reduce pressure on wild populations, various propagation methods (in vitro and ex vitro) were investigated, including methods that could be readily adopted by communities to propagate their own trees. Shoots of varying diameter were harvested from trees in the wild in May (autumn/winter) and December (spring/summer). Since phenolic blackening and contamination of explants are major challenges to micro-propagation, several pre-treatments were investigated and single node explants were cultured on various media including solid medium or on paper bridges with or without various anti-phenolic agents. Several cytokinins were used to encourage bud break. To reduce contamination, various chemical and environmental treatments were investigated. Ex vitro, multi-node and single-node cuttings of all branch types were treated with or without various rooting hormones and were stuck in speedling trays using a variety of planting media. Planting media tested included: pine bark, coarse sand, perlite, vermiculite, and combinations thereof. The results of both the in vitro and ex vitro propagation trials will be reported.
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