Vegetative tree propagation in agroforestry: training guidelines and references

One of the biggest problems associated with agroforestry technologies is the multiplicationon a large scale of agroforestry trees and shrubs.The common way by which plants regenerate naturally is propagation by seed. For researchand rapid improvement of undomesticated species, however, vegetative propagation methodsoffer several advantages. For example, in wild populations, a large variation in important productcharacteristics (e.g. fruit quality, bole straightness, biomass) may be expressed. Furthermore,individuals may be recognized within a population that produce a higher quality of the desiredproduct(s) or services. It would therefore be advantageous to propagate these individualsvegetatively to ‘capture’ the genetic variation expressed, which may otherwise get lost or dilutedduring sexual propagation.Vegetative propagation methods have been developed and used for centuries. Especiallyin temperate regions, vegetative propagation has been an important approach in thedomestication of fruit species and particular methods have been developed for different species.Tropical fruit species have been subjected to vegetative propagation in a number of cases thathave found a lucrative export market, e.g. citrus, mango, avocado, and macadamia nut. Tropicaltimber species have also been cloned, mainly for plantations where uniform trees are needed.Many indigenous trees with a potential high monetary or nutritional value are so far onlyused from natural stands. By integrating these high value trees into agroforestry systems,smallholder farmers in the tropics could greatly benefit. Vegetative propagation is seen as apossibility to select superior germplasm and bring this important resource into the farmers’fields.As part of its programme on ‘Domestication of Agroforestry Trees’, ICRAF has a projecton ‘Propagation Systems for Agroforestry Trees’, which aims to develop jointly, with users,options for appropriate propagation and management practices for agroforestry trees, to enhancethe efficiency, level and stability of tree production. Its outputs are globally applicable or adaptabletree propagation and nursery management guidelines. It is in the context of this project that theCentre organized a short training course on vegetative propagation of agroforestry trees incollaboration with the International Programme for Arid Land Crops, which also conductsresearch and development activities in this area.The first version of the course has been organized for the benefit of participants fromEastern and Southern Africa, but it is likely that in the future it will also be organized in otheragro-ecological regions where ICRAF conducts agroforestry research in collaboration withnational institutions. In addition to supporting this initial training course, these training materialsare expected to facilitate the planning, organization and implementation of this type of course.

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