Macropropagation of Paulownia elongata x fortunei from root cuttings in the Biobío Region, Chile

Abstract

Growing Paulownia was recently introduced in Chile. Results of vegetative propagation of hybrid Paulownia elongata x fortunei
are presented in this research, using root cuttings, The aim of this study was to determine the capacity of root cuttings of hybrid P.
elongata x fortunei to form adventitious shoots, to get new plants which conserve the genotype and characteristics of hybrid using a
simpler and low-cost technique. For this, were used root cuttings of plants with one year old, obtained from experimental plantings,
with the purpose to study the propagation behavior according to three variables: cutting diameter (three levels), substrate type (two
levels), and exogenous stimulus BAP/IBA (two levels). Twelve treatments were generated, each one with three repeats. The best
result was obtained with small diameter cuttings (0.65-0.79 cm), planted in compost:perlite and not treated with hormones, generating
plants 9.44 cm of height in a period of 50 days. It can be concluded that to generate Paulownia plantlest, vegetative propagation by
cuttings root of one year old trees is a viable option.