Foliar application of benzyladenine (BA) as a means to enhance shoot production for asexual propagation of young jack pine (Pinus banksiana lamb.) seedlings

Foliar applications of benzyladenine (BA) wereinvestigated as a potential means forenhancing development of proliferated dwarfshoot (pds), which may serve as stem cuttingmaterial for asexual propagation of young jackpine seedlings. BA application in combinationwith pruning promoted pds production. Potential production of 30-40 shoots per BAtreated plant were obtained within 6 monthsfrom sowing of seed, compared to 14-17 forpruned controls (no BA application) in thesame time period. The BA treatment thatresulted in the highest number of pds variedwith the frequency of BA application. Higherconcentrations of BA generally resulted ingreater numbers of pds. Increasing BAconcentration and frequency of applicationreduced rooting capacity of cuttings as wellas lengths of pds. The optimal BA treatmentsfor both total pds production and high rootingwas found to be BA applied singly at 62.5 or125 mg/l or applied twice at 31.2 or62.5 mg/l. The potential utilization of BAtreatments in operational asexual propagationprocedures of jack pine is discussed.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]