Effect of Acacia Gum on Bare Root Nursery Crops and in Cutting Propagation

Abstract

The effects of acacia gum on bare root ‘Karl Sax forsythia’ (Forsythia × intermedia ‘Karl Sax’) and ‘Merrill’ magnolia (Magnolia stellata ‘Merrill’) were examined, along with the effects of acacia gum on ‘Merlot’ Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Merlot’); ‘Sky Pencil’ holly (Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’); ‘Daisy’ gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Daisy’) in cutting propagation. Tests were conducted to: (1) assess the efficiency of acacia gum in inhibiting the loss of water throughout storage of bare root nursery crops, (2) examine the effects of the acacia gum on post transplant growth of bare root Forsythia × intermedia ‘Karl Sax’ and Magnolia stellata ‘Merrill’, and (3) examine the effectiveness of acacia gum in preventing desiccation during storage and rooting of cuttings.In the bare root study, plants treated with acacia gum had more growth than those treated with the traditional methods of peat and hydrophilic polymer in some cases. It may somewhat reduce water loss of the plants during storage though further testing is necessary to investigate reasons for inconsistent results. Success of acacia gum was highly variable between the two species and acacia gum concentrations. Acacia gum did not prevent the loss of water of cuttings during propagation. Furthermore it was found to harm cuttings with increased concentration.