ILISONI LASAQA VUETINABOUONO LEWENIQILA. A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements. for the degree of Master of Agriculture

Transcription

1

2 AN EVALUATION OF MARCOTTING TECHNIQUES ON BREADFRUIT (Artocarpus altilis) VARIETY, BALE KANA FOR IMPROVED MULTIPLICATION OF PLANTING MATERIALS IN FIJI. by ILISONI LASAQA VUETINABOUONO LEWENIQILA A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agriculture Copyright 2013 by Ilisoni Lasaqa Vuetinabouono Leweniqila School of Agriculture Food and Technology Faculty of Business and Economics The University of the South Pacific November, 2013

3 Declaration of Authenticity Statement by Author I, Ilisoni Lasaqa Vuetinabouono Leweniqila, declare that this thesis is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge, it contains no material previously published, or substantially overlapping with material submitted for the award on any other degree at any institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the text. 21/11/2013 Signature Date Ilisoni.L.V.Leweniqila Name.. S Student ID Statement by Supervisor The research in this thesis was performed under my supervision and to my knowledge is the sole work of Mr. Ilisoni Lasaqa Vuetinabouono Leweniqila. 21/11/2013 Signature Date..... Mr Falaniko Amosa Name. Senior Lecturer for Crop Sciences Designation......

4 Dedication Proverbs 1:7, 33-To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn. But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid. To my dear parents (Peleki and Sokoveti Leweniqila) For their indefatigable struggle in carrying me this far, to you both, I am indebted for everything you have provided throughout my academic years, you sacrificed everything and ensure that I got the privilege; it is an honor to have parents like you. This thesis is the result of your labor and toil for me over the years. iii

5 Acknowledgement No form of accomplishment in life is ever the result of individual isolated effort, but the product of the contribution and corporate support of many people in our lives. First and foremost, I would like to thank my Almighty God for bringing me through these challenging times and has never failed me. Words cannot express the feeling of joy of achieving a goal after so many struggles; all I can say is THANK YOU LORD. You deserve the glory and all credit for my life. Furthermore, this study would not have been possible without the support of numerous people and organizations. In particular the Australian Center for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) for funding the study and the Pacific Breadfruit team who tirelessly worked on the development of the proposal and implementation of the trial itself. Without this there would have not been sufficient information to undertake necessary quantitative analysis. The following staff contributed substantially to the study: The University of the South Pacific (USP) lecturers, Mr. Falaniko Amosa my internal supervisor. Dr Adama Ebenebe, Mr. David Hunter and Mr. Sanjay Nand I say fa afetaitele lava for your continuous support and guidance. A big Vinaka vakalevu to the numerous staff of the Ministry of Primary industries (MPI), particularly the research and extension divisions. Last but not least I would like to thank all my colleagues of 2013 at Alafua Campus. iv

6 LIST OF FIGURES PAGE NUMBERS Figure 1.1: Fresh breadfruit exports to New Zealand.. 3 Figure 2.1: Map of sigatoka research station showing location of experimental site Figure 3.1: Monthly averages of rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity for Sigatoka Research Station Figure 4.1 Onset of root growth on marcotted branches was affected by marcotting medium Figure 4.2 Root ball percentages at harvest were affected by marcotting media Figure 4.3 Time/days taken for marcotts to be harvested was affected by media 28 Figure 4.4 Time/days taken for marcotts to be harvested was affected by media 29 Figure 4.5 Onset of root growth on marcotted branches was affected by marcotting medium Figure 4.6 Root ball percentages at harvest Figure 4.7 Effects of branch location and branch sizes on the number of successful marcotts produced v

7 LIST OF APPENDICES PAGE NUMBER Appendix 1: Balekana Breadfruit Germplasm Field plan.. 39 Appendix 2: Twelveweeks of data collection on Experiment Appendix 3: Twelveweeks of data collection on Experiment Appendix 4: Photographs on the setting of marcott trials Appendix 5: Analysis of variance of the two experiments 52 Appendix 6: Experiment 1 - Genstats analysis result on the means of the success marcotts Appendix 7: Experiment 2: Anova on two Branch location and two Branch sizes Appendix 8: Chemical characteristics of the Breadfruit trial site vi

8 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT. ix ABBREVIATION.... x CHAPTER INTRODUCTION CHAPTER LITERATURE REVIEW Historical Background of Breadfruit Factors That Affect Breadfruit Growth Climatic Factors Ground Water Level and its Salinity Types of Soil and Soil Fertility Exposure to Salt Water Spray Location of Human Settlement Methods of Propagating Breadfruit Tree Root Suckers Root Cuttings Propagation by Marcotting Use of Rooting Hormones in Breadfruit Marcotting Effect of Branch Size on Marcotting Propagation by Seeds Planting of young breadfruit shoots onto the Field Planting Material Collection in Fiji CHAPTER RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Location of the Study Site Characteristics Rainfall Relative Humidity Air Temperature Soil Fertility Field Experiments Field Experiment1:Evaluation on the effects of the four marcotting media Objectives of Field Experiment One Null-Hypotheses of Field Experiment One Experiment Design Treatment Design Field Experiment 2: Evaluation study of two marcotted branch locations and size Objectives of Field Experiment Two Null-Hypotheses of Field Experiment Two Experiment Design Treatment Design Data collection vii

9 3.5 Statistical Analysis CHAPTER RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS Field Experiment 1: Evaluation of the effects of the four marcotting media on the following Time taken to the onset of first root growth Percent root ball on marcotts at harvest Time taken to the harvest of the marcotts The numbers of successful marcotts Experiment 2: Comparison study of the two branch sizes and branch locations Time taken to onset of new roots Percent root ball on marcotts at harvest Number of successful marcotts Time taken to harvest a successful marcotts CHAPTER CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REFERENCES APPENDICES viii

10 ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different techniques on the breadfruit variety Bale kana to improve marcotting multiplication of planting materials in Fiji. Two trials were established at one trial site because of the young age and small sizes of the mother trees available at the time. The first trial evaluated the effects of four (4) different marcotting media on the onset of first root growth; root mass at harvest; time to harvest of marcotts; and percent success. The marcotting media used were Control Medium (peat moss); Medium 1 (peat moss plus 10% sphagnum moss); Medium 2 (Peat moss with 10% sphagnum moss and liquid rooting hormone); and Medium 3 (peat moss plus 10% sphagnum moss plus powdered hormone) were randomly assigned to the 21 experimental blocks where each available breadfruit mother tree was treated as a block in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Results showed there was an effect of marcotting media on the onset of the first root growth; root mass at harvest; earliness of harvest; and on the total number of successful marcotts (P<0.05). Results showed that marcotting Medium 2 although not statistically different from the Control Medium provided the highest percentage of root mass at harvest, earliest harvest of marcotts and the highest total number of successful marcotts. This fast root appearance and growth is thought to be due to the medium s good water holding capacity and the use of liquid rooting hormone which provided ideal conditions for good root growth. Field conditions during the time of the experiment were also favorable with high relative humidity (< 80%) and temperatures o C (Steward, 2012). The second trial aimed to determine the effects of two branch sizes and two branch locations (high and low) on the onset of first root growth; root mass at harvest; time to harvest of marcotts; and percent success. The 4 treatment combinations (size & locations) were randomly allocated to the 21 experimental blocks where each available breadfruit mother tree was treated as a block using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Results showed that the big branches (3.5 to 4.5 cm in diameter) performed better than small branches (P<0.05). The onset of the first root growth in big branches was 10 days earlier; marcotts from big branches produced 3.2 times more root mass at harvest; and 2.2 times more successful marcotts. However, branch size did not affect time to harvest of marcotts at the 100% root ball stage. There was also no effect due to location of branches on the mother trees. The better performance of big branches is suggested to be due to a higher amount of carbohydrates in the big branches although not measured in this work (Stice, 2013). ix

11 ABBREVIATION ACIAR ANOVA DAM F.A.O FJD HTFA IA LSD PARDI PBP RCBD RH TRTC Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research Analysis of Variance Dead after Marcotting Food and Agriculture Organization Fiji Dollar High Temperature Forced Air Indole Acetic Acid Least Significant Differences Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative Pacific Breadfruit Project Randomized Complete Block Design Relative Humidity Tutu Rural Training Centre x

12 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), belongs to the botanical family of Moreceae and has been grown throughout the Pacific region for millennia. According to the Fiji Agricultural Census carried out in 1992, a total of 182,000 plants are grown in the Fiji group. The tree grows between 12 to 15 meters in height and can grow up to 21 meters (Ragone& Taylor, 2007). Breadfruit is a cultural icon in the Pacific. Parts of the tree being used medicinally, especially the latex, leaf tips, and inner bark. The wood is lightweight, flexible, and resist to termites. It is used for buildings and for making small canoes. The attractive wood is easily carved into statues, bowls, and other objects or utilized as firewood throughout the region. The inner bark is used to make bark cloth (tapa, siapo), but this formerly widespread custom is now only practiced in the Marquesas. Large, flexible leaves are used to wrap food for cooking in earth ovens. The sticky white latex is used as chewing gum and as an adhesive and was widely used to caulk canoes and also as birdlime (to catch birds). Dried male flowers can be burned to repel mosquitoes and other flying insects (Bower, 1981). Breadfruit grows in a wide range of ecological conditions and soil types. The crop is found to be grown from sea level to an altitude of 1066m and temperature ranging from 15 0 C C. The apparent adaptability of the crop to variable environmental conditions makes it an important crop in the face of climate change and creates great potential for food security (Ragone, 1997). In 1769, Sir Joseph Banks traveling with Captain James Cook to Tahiti recognized the potential of breadfruit as a food crop for other tropical regions. His observation was if a man plants ten (breadfruit) trees in his life, which he 1

13 can do in about an hour, he would completely fulfill his duty to his own as well as future generations, This observation prompted the infamous voyage by the HMS Bounty to collect breadfruit plants for introduction as a food source for the British Colonies in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, in one frenzied moment, riotous mutineers tossed overboard hundreds of breadfruit plants meticulously collected by Captain Bligh s gardeners and crew. Subsequent voyages were more successful and breadfruit has been cultivated in the Caribbean and other tropical regions since the late 1700s (Barrau, 1957). Fiji has been exporting breadfruit to New Zealand since 2001(Figure 1). In more recent years, these exports have oscillated around 10 tonnes annually (McGregor, 2006).While these exports are a fraction of identified market demand, it is proven that high temperature forced air (HTFA) treated breadfruit will increase levels of breadfruit exports. According to the Nature s Way Cooperative Strategic Plan ( ), Fiji should by now be exporting well in excess of 200 tonnes of breadfruit annually. Experience in Fiji has shown that the main reason why breadfruit exports have remained at a disappointingly low level is that breadfruit is still harvested from the wild and also from the village gardens. Growing breadfruit as a crop in orchards will allow efficient production, easier harvesting and an extended harvesting season contributing to food security. It is estimated that a market approaching a thousand tonnes exporting to New Zealand, Australia and the United States could realistically be developed over the next decade. This would represent export earnings of around FJD 3 million and farm income in the order of FJD 1 to FJD 1.5 million. This income would be distributed amongst considerable numbers of rural households (McGregor etal., 2007). 2

14 Tonnes Figure 1.1: Fresh Breadfruit Exports to New Zealand ( ) (Source: Nature s way, 2005) The breadfruit industry will have the potential to provide an extended food security and an economic security by supplementing incomes of farmers who depend largely on sugar cane as a source of income. Thus, the likely economic and social impacts from this project are considerable. Therefore, there is a need to promote the growing of breadfruit as a crop in orchards for those reasons, if the breadfruit industry in Fiji is to realize the market potential of the crop. Since we are harvesting from the wild and village gardens, the breadfruit export is not meeting the demand required from markets in New Zealand and the United State of America. Therefore, in order to plant breadfruit as a crop on orchards, marcotting propagation is the planting techniques that will provide rapid multiplication of breadfruit planting materials. In addition, the fruiting of breadfruit plants will take 1.5 years with 3 harvesting periods a year. On the other hand, while a foreseeable likely problem with insufficient supply of good quality planting materials for growing breadfruit in orchards, marcotting is predicted to rapidly increase production of good quality planting material. Propagating plants by marcotts (air layering) is becoming popular as it can produce a shorter tree that can start to bear fruit in 1.5 years compared to 3

15 plants obtained from root suckers and root cuttings, which produce seedling trees that are known to be slower producers or slow in fruiting (Stice, 2013). This research study was to evaluate the marcotting techniques on breadfruit variety Bale kana and also to improve multiplication of planting materials in Fijifor improved commercial nursery practices. Bale kana variety was selected because they could bear fruit 3 times a year and also their winning taste and demand in overseas but most of all they are tolerant to cyclone. This project is a full Australia Center for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) Small Research and Development Activity under the Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development Initiative (PARDI) titled Developing commercial breadfruit production systems for the Pacific islands (PARDI/2010/005). 4

16 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Historical Background of Breadfruit The breadfruit tree has a large center of origin, which includes the indo- Malaya archipelago and New Guinea and extends northward as far as western Micronesia (Coenen et al., 1961). It was first introduced into Europe by Spanish navigators about the sixteenth century (Kanehira, 1931). However, breadfruit only became well known when the British government dispatched two expeditions, both commanded by Captain William Bligh, to obtain breadfruit cuttings from Tahiti to be transplanted into the West Indies (Purseglove, 1968), a famous event in British botanical exploration. The Bounty, which was sent first, left Spithead on the 23 rd December 1787 and arrived at Tahiti on the 26 th October 1788 (Purseglove, 1968). Bligh remained on Tahiti until 4 th April 1789, when he sailed with 1,015 breadfruit and other plants in 774 pots, 39 tubs and 24 boxes. The mutiny created worldwide interest, not only in itself, but also in breadfruit. Bligh returned to Tahiti in 1792 on board the Providence for the second exploration, and successfully carried 120 samples to St. Vincent and Jamaica (Kanehira, 1931). According to Alexander (2009), the original breadfruit tree planted by Bligh in 1793 still stands in the Botanical Gardens in St Vincent. In 1966, Queen Elizabeth planted a scion from it nearby. 2.2 Factors That Affect Breadfruit Growth The distribution of breadfruit is governed by the factors of climate, ground water level and salinity, soil type and fertility, exposure to salt water spray and the location of human settlement. 5

17 2.2.1 Climatic Factors Breadfruit a tropic plant that can be grown in low land conditions throughout the Pacific islands. This is the case with most countries of the south pacific with the exception of New Zealand where the temperature is low (Goodman,1972).According to Purseglove (1968), the breadfruit tree is a tree of hot,humid tropical lowland and does best in insular climate with an annual rainfall of meter and temperature of around 22 0 C Ground Water Level and its Salinity Breadfruit need much water for growth (Bailey, 1950), however the most important growth factor, is the salinity of the ground water. Trujillo (1971), has reported that most species of breadfruit do not tolerate salinity, whether in ground water, or in soil. He went on to mention that breadfruit is the least tolerant member of the flora to salinity. The same author reported that breadfruit tree do not grow where the ground water has a content higher than 200 to 400ppm of chlorine. However,these chlorine level are much higher than most plants can tolerate. This may explain the repeated appearance of contradictory information in the literature where some authors have claimed that breadfruit can tolerate salinity. The fact is, salinity tolerance varies between breadfruit varieties Types of Soil and Soil Fertility Breadfruit can grow in a variety of soils, provided they are of sufficient depth and are not waterlogged (Purseglove,1968). This characteristic of breadfruit explains its distribution throughout the Pacific islands from high islands to the atolls (Goodman 1972). 6

18 2.2.4 Exposure to Salt Water Spray Salt water spray posed the most serious problem for plants grown at coastal areas, especially during times of hurricanes or strong winds from the coast. As mentioned earlier, breadfruit trees grow very well on sandy soil in coastal areas because of the soils perfect drainage to ground water. However, these positions make them more exposed to strong winds and salt water spray. The effect is, either the plant is destroyed by strong wind or suffers from die-back due to salt spray which exceeds its tolerance limit Location of Human Settlements As most settlements of Fiji and Samoa are located around the coastal areas, people utilize these conditions to propagate the trees both for food and for ornamental purposes. This is very convenient for the people during the fruiting seasons, when food is available. Such situations had been observed by the early Pacific navigators which made them believe, A breadfruit is a symbol of abundance and easy living in the South Seas Islands (Barrau 1954). 2.3 Methods of Propagating Breadfruit Trees Polynesian countries have been reported to have the largest number of breadfruit cultivars, yet very little scientific breeding of breadfruit plants are done at these places (Purseglove, 1968). This creates interest in the traditional methods of breadfruit propagation in these places since these are the only methods available for the crop. Breadfruit is a seed bearing plant however, it is normally propagated vegetatively by Polynesian farmers since sexual seedlings are genetically different from the parental plants and would not have all the desired characteristics of the parent plants. The three common ways to vegetatively propagate breadfruit trees are: 1. Root suckers 2. Root cuttings 3. Marcotting also known as Aerial layering. 7

19 Root Suckers Mature breadfruit trees have roots close to the surface. New shoots or suckers grow from these roots, especially when the roots are wounded. Some varieties produce more root suckers than others. The Fijian variety Bale kana is one such variety. Propagation technique for Root Suckers: The following is a description by Nature s Way Cooperative (2005:10): When the shoot is more than 0.3 meter high, roots are cut 100 mm on either side of the sucker. Using a spade gently lift the cut section of root together with the sucker from the ground. The complete plant can be removed and planted in a damp shaded area in a nursery. It should remain in the nursery until it has developed a strong root system of its own. The young plant can be planted directly into the new orchard if it is well watered and cared for. It should not be allowed to wilt. If directly transplanted into the field, the sucker should be placed in a hole containing plenty of organic material Root Cuttings Propagation technique for root cuttings: The following is an explanation of this technique by Mackenzie (et al., 1964): It is best to collect roots after the fruiting season is over and when the tree is in an active vegetative stage, producing new leaves. Listed below are the procedures: Select healthy roots growing slightly below the soil that are 1.5 to 6 cm in diameter (3-4 cm is best). Cut roots into 12 to 30 cm long sections. Roots should be scrubbed clean and kept moist. 8

20 Root cuttings are then planted directly into the ground in loose, organic soil or in a pot with well-drained soil. Roots can be oriented horizontally below the surface of the soil or diagonally with the upper few centimeters exposed to air. Make sure that the end that is cut from closest to tree is the one that goes into the ground. To avoid confusion, the tip end should be cut diagonally Propagation by Marcotting There is limited information available in the literature on propagation of breadfruit by marcotting. However, this method is described by Nature s Way Cooperative (2005), in their breadfruit manual and listed below are the procedures: In this method of propagation, a young shoot coming off a branch is selected and girdled about 30cm below the leaves. The bark around this branch is stripped (75 mm long) and the soft cambium under the bark is removed, using a sharp knife. Squeeze the soil mixture firmly into shape; adjust the wrapping so that it holds the marcotting mixture tightly. A piece of clear plastic is cut to a convenient size is held in one hand and apply the damp growth medium evenly around the stem. The growth medium should be damp, but not so wet that water can be squeezed out of it. Using one of the pre-cut rubber strips, wind it tightly two or three times around the branch so that it holds the plastic sleeve tightly in place. Clear plastic enables root development to be observed so that the branch can be cut from the parent tree at the correct time. Encase the growth medium within the plastic wrapping. During the next few months, roots will grow out into the damp growth medium. When this happens, the branch can be cut below the roots at the bottom rubber 9

21 tie before the growth medium dries out. The bandage and ties are removed, and the rooted cutting planted in a nursery area or a plastic bag where it can be watered and easily cared for. The nursery planting medium should be course weathered sand mixed with organic matter. Avoid the use of fine sand or sand that has been sourced close to the sea. While in the nursery, the roots will continue to develop. After a few weeks in the nursery the healthy plant will be ready for planting Use of Rooting Hormones in Breadfruit Marcotting There are just a few studies on the use of rooting hormones on marcotting in breadfruit reported in the literature. Lopez (1975) reported the use of rooting hormones in breadfruit marcotting and stem cuttings under controlled environment resulted in 95% of the marcotts and cuttings producing sufficient root, shoot growth and stem elongation after ten weeks. This early growth he found coincided with the highest levels of stored carbohydrates in the mother plant and it inhibited the development of lateral buds allowing the new plant maintain apical dominance. In the same study, Lopez also proved that removed newly developed shoots from root cuttings treated with rooting hormone and grown in sand were ready for field transplanting after 6 months. Hamilton et al. (1982) also demonstrated that the use of rooting hormones in marcotting of breadfruit increased rooting. This, he explained, was due to the action of the hormone, Indole Acetic Acid (IA) in root growth and development. Cerveny and Gibson at the University of Florida-Milton (2005) studied the effectiveness of powdered rooting hormones and liquid hormones on stems cuttings. In that work they found powdered forms of rooting hormones generally less effective than liquid formulation applied at the same concentration. They further added, marcotting media with rooting hormone 10

22 facilitate rooting, where cultural practices or environmental conditions are not ideal and also in the propagation of moderate and difficult-to-root species. In a more recent work the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2012 reported a study on the effects of marcotting media and branch size on rooting and that was carried out in China, Thailand, India, and Bangladesh. The results of that work showed, the medium consisting of 100 percent peat moss and medium mixed with rooting hormone improved rooting of marcotts and resulted in more than 90 percent of the success rate. Findings by Steward (2012) on his marcotting work with avocado explained early rooting was due to the high relative humidity experienced in the research area and the inclusion of rooting hormone which enhanced rooting. 2.4 Effect of Branch Size on Marcotting Menzel (1991) in Southern Queensland studied the effects of size of breadfruit branches on the success of marcotting. That work proved that big breadfruit branches at the upper location on mature trees produce more successful marcotts. Menzel explained this success was due to the age of the branches and their high contents of carbohydrates that available for rooting. Results from the same research cited above, the FAO report (2012) further showed that the best rooting was obtained from sun-lit big branches on mature trees. Marcotts taken from thin, shaded branches either died or took a longer time to develop roots. The support for big branches was further echoed in two personal interviews in 2012 with scientists from the ACIAR Pacific Breadfruit Project and the Ministry of Primary Industries in Fiji. Mr. Tora and Mr. Erasito of the Pacific Breadfruit Project have observed higher success in marcotts performed on big breadfruit branches compared to small branches. Mr. Bole and Mr.Yashwar of the Sigatoka Research Station confirmed this observation 11

23 with their experience where they have observed higher success using branch sizes ranging from cm in diameter. Goebel, (1986) looking at breadfruit reported in his research on fruit trees that early development of new roots on marcotts did not consistently rely on the size of branches and their locations on mother trees but depend more on the vigor of the mother plants. This suggested that the size of the branches collaborates with vigor of the tree. 2.5 Propagation by Seeds Although the vegetative methods are commonly used for breadfruit in the field, it should be noted that breadfruit can be propagated by seed. The breadfruit seed is taken and planted. Traditionally, this usually happened when visitors returned to their home islands and took a seed of varieties they did not have. Usually, the seeds are left to sprout under the breadfruit trees, and then they are dug up and moved to a new location when ready. Seed propagation takes years for trees to fruit, therefore, propagation by seeds is not applicable for commercialization due to being time consuming (Mackenzie, 1960). 2.6 Planting of young breadfruit shoots onto the Field Young breadfruit plants prepared by the above methods are usually planted between seasons of harvest, mostly during rainy seasons (Mackenzie et al., 1964). In Fiji, breadfruit should be planted in well enriched soil holes around 40cm deep and 50cm wide. In the Caribbean, breadfruit is planted at a distance of around 8 to 12 meters. A wider spacing should be considered in Fiji for disease control and to allow for intercropping. The Breadfruit Institute recommended a meter distances for orchard planting in the Pacific Islands (McGregor et al., 2007). A linear orchard may be considered for farmers who plant trees in a single row along the boundary of their land or beside a river or creek. 12

24 2.7 Planting Material Collection in Fiji A major component of the Pacific Breadfruit Project (PBP) is the mass propagation of preferred variety of breadfruit trees that will enable the establishment of orchards (Tora, 2011:2). This propagation activity is led by the Nursery specialist Wais Bole. The propagation techniques used are marcotting and the use of root suckers. The preferred varieties that are being targeted for mass propagation are Uto Dina and Bale kana, because of their high demand in overseas market because of their quality and taste. Uto Dina is commonly found on Viti Levu and in the Nadi area whereas; bale kana variety is normally found in the Cakaudrove province that includes Vanua Levu and Taveuni. Marcotting began in the Nacocolevu area in October 2011 and some of the marcotts have now been removed from the tree, potted in poly bags and are recovering in the nursery. Early indications are that 50% of Bale Kana variety success rate will be achieved. At the Sigatoka Research Station propagation has been carried out using the air layering (Tora, 2011:3). The Pacific Breadfruit Project (PBP) is collaborating with the Tutu Rural Training Centre (TRTC), Taveuni. Through its adult education training programmes, TRTC encourages farmers to utilize their land for breadfruit and improved household s activities. The 2000 acre Tutu campus located on Taveuni holds a wide diversity of naturalized breadfruit varieties including hundreds of trees of the preferred Bale kana variety. The partnership between Tutu and the Pacific Breadfruit Project exists to train and involve the Tutu staff and young farmers in propagation technique for breadfruit and provide the Pacific Breadfruit Project with planting material of the preferred variety, Bale kana. In November 2011, members of the PBP team travelled to Taveuni on a five day mission to train young farmers in breadfruit propagation techniques and collecting planting materials. Over the course of the mission, 263 marcotts were set around the Tutu Campus and 1000 root suckers were potted. Two hundred and seventy three of these roots suckers have been transported to Nadi. 13

25 In addition to that, 115 marcotts and 1026 root suckers were collected on January 2012 (Erasito, Personal Communication, December, 2011). 14

26 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Location of the Study This research was carried out in Fiji. Fiji is a South Pacific island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean, about 2000 km northeast of New Zealand's North Island. Its more immediate neighbors are Vanuatu to the west, New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealand's Kermadec to the southeast, Tonga to the east, Samoa and Wallis and Futuna to the northeast, and Tuvalu to the north. Fiji comprises of an archipelago of more than 350 islands and islets of which approximately 110 are inhabited. Fiji is the hub of the South West Pacific, located between 176 o 53 east and 178 o 12 west. The total land area is 18, 333 sq km. The two major islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Fiji experiences a tropical climate with the rainy season starting from November to April and the dry season from May to October Site Characteristics The experimental site was Sigatoka Research Station (Figure 3.1). The station is situated at Nacocolevu in the lower reaches of the Sigatoka River. It is 6kilometers from Sigatoka Town in the province of Nadroga. The station occupies an area of approximately 332hectares composed of 35hectaresof fertile alluvial flats and 297ha of hill grazing land. Weather data was collected daily. Monthly averages for rainfall, relative humidity, and air temperatures were calculated at the end of each month for that seven month period of the research. 15

27 Figure 2.1: Map of Sigatoka Research Station showing location of experimental site (Source: 16

28 3.1.2 Rainfall The average monthly rainfall (Figure 3.2) in the first four months of the trial period saw a steady decline in precipitation levels. The dry season from May to October marks a time of relatively low rainfall throughout the study area. The trend normally favors an increase in precipitation nearing the wet months from November to April. The observed rainfall in this region was average Relative Humidity The relative humidity (RH) is influenced by several factors; the most important being temperature. Warmer temperatures can cause the air to expand increasing its maximum vapor pressure; as a result the percentage of the existing water vapor in the air would decrease. Conversely, cooler temperatures can decrease the maximum vapor pressure when air particles are closely packed together. Hence the relative humidity increases as the air becomes saturated. Also water vapor increases with increasing evaporation. Figure 3.2 shows the relative humidity to increase with cooler temperatures and decrease with warmer temperatures. For instance, the RH peaked in June when temperatures continued to drop in 3 consecutive months. RH had dropped in July despite the lowest observed temperatures. This drop in RH is due to the fact that July had been the driest month in the trial period and therefore very little evaporation occurred. In August, moist conditions and warmer temperatures returned hence the slight increase in RH compared to the preceding month Air Temperature Figure 3.1 shows the normal trend in temperature during the dry season in Sigatoka. The coolest temperature of 29 0 Cwas recorded in July while the highest of 32 0 C was recorded in the seasonal transition month of April. Normally, the dry season is cool while the wet season is warm. 17

29 100 Monthly averages of Rainfall(mm), Temperature (degrees celsius) and Relative Humidity (%) APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT Monthly rainfall Relative Humidity Average temperature Figure 3.1: Monthly averages of rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity for sigatoka research station Soil Fertility Soil samples (Appendix 8) were taken from the trial site and was analyzed at Koronivia research station. Results showed that the CEC (0.1 cmol/kg) of the area is low, whereas, the total N (0.3%) was at the medium range. Olsen extractable P level (50mg/kg) in the area is high and this provides acceptable correlation to the plant uptake. The results of the exchangeable bases are Ca (2541 cmol c kg -1 ), Mg (7.741 cmol c kg -1 ), K ( cmol c kg -1 ) and Na (0.41 cmol c kg -1 ). DTPA - extractable micro nutrients results are Cu (6 mg kg -1 ), Fe ( mg kg -1 ), Mn (15.1 mg kg -1 ), and Zn (3.6 mg kg -1 ), exchangeable Ca (2541 cmol c kg -1 ), Mg (7.741 cmol c kg -1 ), and K ( cmol c kg -1 ). Based on the soils of Fiji, Sigatoka Research Station subsurface horizons are rated at the Oxic range, meaning it has high amount of trace elements. 18

30 3.2 Field Experiments This research comprised of two experiments conducted in one site using the recommended variety Bale Kana. The experiments were separated because of the young age and small sizes of the mother trees available at the time. It was decided that overloading the trees with marcotts might have adversely affected their health and performance Experiment 1: Evaluation on the effects of the four marcotting media This field experiment was set up to study the effects of four marcotting media on root growth of marcotts and the success of marcotting on the variety Bale Kana Objectives of Field Experiment One 1. To determine the effects of four marcotting media on the onset of rooting on marcotted breadfruit branches of variety Bale Kana 2. To determine the effects of four marcotting media on the growth of the root balls on marcotted breadfruit branches of variety Bale Kana. 3. To determine the effects of four marcotting media on the number of successful marcotts of breadfruit branches of variety Bale Kana Null-Hypotheses of Field Experiment One 1. Marcotting medium does not have an effect on the onset of rooting (measured by days after application of marcotts). 2. Marcotting medium does not have an effect on the growth of root balls (measured by percent volume of the marcotting plastic wrap fill by roots). 3. Marcotting medium does not have an effect on the success of marcotting (measured by the number of marcotts with roots at the end of the experiment). 19

31 3.2.4Experimental Design The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 treatments replicated 21 times Treatment Design The 4 treatments were randomly assigned to the 21 experimental blocks where each available breadfruit mother tree was treated as a block. Treatments T 1 Control T 2 Marcotting media 1 T 3 Marcotting media 2 T 4 Marcotting media 3 Key: Control- Peat moss (Standard marcott) Marcotting Medium 1- Peat base + 10% sphagnum moss as aerator and moisture store. Marcotting Medium 2- Peat base + 10% sphagnum moss + liquid plant rooting 5mls to 4 liters of wet mix. Marcotting Medium 3- Peat base + 10% sphagnum moss + powdered 5mls to 4 liters of wet mix. 20

32 3.3 Field Experiment 2: Evaluation study of two marcotted branch locations and sizes The second field experiment was developed to study the effects of branch size and location on root growth of marcotts and the success of marcotting on breadfruit variety Bale Kana 3.3.1Objectives of Field Experiment Two 1. To determine the effects of two branch sizes and two locations on the onset of rooting on marcotted breadfruit branches of variety Bale Kana 2. To determine the effects of two branch sizes and two locations on the growth of the root balls on marcotted breadfruit branches of variety Bale Kana. 3. To determine the effects of two branch sizes and two locations on the number of successful marcotts of breadfruit branches of variety Bale Kana Null-Hypotheses of Field Experiment Two 1. The size of a branch and its location on the mother tree does not have an effect on the onset of rooting (measured by days after application of the marcotts). 2. The size of a branch and its location on the mother tree does not have an effect on the growth of root balls (measured by percent volume of marcotting plastic wrap fill by roots). 3. The size of a branch and its location on the mother tree does not have an effect on the success of marcotting (measured by the number of marcotts with roots at the end of the experiment). 21

33 3.3.3 Experimental Design The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 21 replications Treatment Design The treatment design used was a factorial arrangement of 2 branch sizes and 2 locations. The 4 treatment combinations were randomly allocated to the 21 experimental blocks where each available breadfruit mother tree was treated as a block. Treatment T 1 T 2 T 3 T 4 Combinations Upper branch location with Small branch size Upper branch location with Big branch size Lower branch location with Small branch size Lower branch location with Big branch size Key: Branch Location 1- Upper branches (>1.5m high) Branch Location 2- Lower branches (<1.5m high) Branch size 1 - Big branches ( cm in 3.4 Data Collection The field experiments for this research were carried out within a seven-month period. However this report presents data from the first three months. The breadfruit trees were marcotted on the 23 rd of April and data collection was carried out at every two weeks interval. Cleaning of site was carried out at every three weeks to maintain quality results of the trial. This included hand weeding and the use of bush cutters to clear unwanted weeds grown in the trial area. 22

34 3.4.1 The following data was collected from both experiments: 1.Onset of root growth: Onset of root growth was measured by counting the number of days from applying the marcotts to appearance of the first roots in the marcotting plastic. 2. Percent root ball growth at time of harvest: Root ball growth was measured by visual estimates of percent volume of the marcotting plastic filled by root growth at the end of the experiment. 3. Time to harvest: Time to harvest was measured by counting the number of days from applying the marcotts to the harvest of the developed marcotts; this was carried out when the marcotts had a 100% root ball. However, all developing marcotts that did not reach 100% root ball were harvested when this study ended after three months. 4. Percent of successful marcotts: Successful marcotts were determined by presence of roots in the marcotting plastic at the end of the study. 3.5 Statistical Analysis Data collected from Experiment 1 and Experiment 2 were subjected to the standard analysis of variance (ANOVA) for a RCBD (refer to Appendix 1) using the statistical package Genstat (Genstat Discovery Edition 4, 2011). The F-Test was used to test for treatment differences at the 5% level and where differences were detected the LSD method was used for means comparison (Gomez, A. A. & Gomez, K. A., 1984). 23

35 CHAPTER 4 RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section, Experiment 1, present results on the effects off our marcotting media on rooting of marcotted branches and the total number of successful marcotts. The second section, Experiment 2, show results of the effects of branch size and branch location on rooting of marcotted branches and total number of successful marcotts Field Experiment 1: Evaluation of the effects of the four marcotting media on the following: 4.1.1Time taken to the onset of first root growth There were significant differences (P<0.05) between media used with regards to the time taken to first root growth. The marcotts on the Control Medium (Peat moss) and Medium 2 (Peat moss with 10% sphagnum moss and liquid rooting hormone) showed first root growths at35 days after marcotting(dam) and were significantly early compared to marcotts on Medium 1(peat moss plus 10% sphagnum moss)and Medium 3(peat moss plus 10% sphagnum moss and powder hormone)which showed first root growths at 57DAM(Figure 4.1). This result is supported by the work reported by the FAO in 2012 that documented the use of liquid rooting hormone resulting in good rooting and Steward (2012) on his marcotting work with avocado. This fast root appearance and growth is explained to be due to the medium s good water holding capacity and the inclusion of the liquid rooting hormone providing ideal conditions for good root growth. Steward further added that high field relative humidity also contributed to the earliness of rooting. 24

36 50 b b Days to first root development a a 0 Control Marcotting medium Marcotting medium 1 2 Marcotting medium 3 Marcotting medium Figure 4.1 Onset of root growth on marcotted branches wasaffected by marcotting medium Percent root ball on marcotts at harvest There was a real effect of marcotting media on the growth of roots on the marcotted branches as measured by the percent of root ball at harvest (P<0.05). The marcotts on the Control Medium and on Medium 2 had 95.7 percent and100 percent of the marcotting plastics filled with root growth respectively and were comparable at the time of harvest (Figure 4.2). Marcotts on Medium 1 and Medium 3 were comparable and had significantly lower root growth having root ball percentages of 35respectively at the time of harvest (Figure 4.2). This result is supported by findings by Lopez (1975); Hamilton et al. (1982); FAO (2012); Steward (2012); and Gibson (2005) where they attributed the higher root growth to the use of liquid rooting hormones. Steward (2012) further added that high relative humidity experienced in the research area also contributed to the enhanced root growth. This work also reinforces Gibson s finding in 2005when he found that liquid form of rooting hormone more effective in root production than powdered forms. It is believed that the higher percentages of roots developed in the marcotting media by marcotts on the Control Medium and on Medium 2 at harvest resulted from the early onset of 25

37 root growth in these media. The favorable high relative humidity experienced in the experiment site is also thought to have a positive impact on rooting. This indicates, that the earlier root growth occurs, the earlier the marcotts would develop a full or 100percent root ball (Gibson, 2005) a a Percentage of root mass at harvest b b 0 Control Marcotting Marcotting medium 1 medium 2 Marcotting medium Marcotting medium 3 Figure 4.2 Root ball percentages at harvest were affected by marcotting media. 26

38 4.1.3 Time taken to the harvest of the marcotts There was a real effect (P < 0.05) of media on the time taken for marcotts to be harvested, which was signaled by marcotts having reached about a 100 percent root ball. Marcotts on Medium 2 and those on the Control Medium were comparable and were harvested earlier at 57 and 59 DAM respectively. Marcotts on Medium 1and Medium 3 attained only44 and 42 percent root balls respectively at the end of the experiment at 99 DAM (Figure 4.3). The early attainment of a 100 percent root filled marcotting plastic hence the harvest indicator, for the marcotts on Medium 2and those on the Control Medium is thought to be attributed to the early onset of root growth brought about by the use of the liquid rooting hormone in Medium 2.This result is again supported by the works of Lopez (1975); Hamilton et al. (1982); FAO (2012);Steward (2012); and Cerveny and Gibson (2005) that the use of liquid rooting hormone resulted in good rooting. The FAO report also pointed to the medium s good water holding capacity and Steward suggested the favorable high relative humidity experienced in his experiment site providing additional ideal conditions for good root growth. This suggests, that use of liquid hormone initiates early root growth and the earlier the roots grow, the earlier the marcotts would develop a full or 100 percent root ball, therefore an early harvest. 27

39 b b Days taken to harvest a a 0 Control Marcotting medium 1 Marcotting medium 2 Marcotting medium 3 Marcotting medium Figure 4.3 Time/days taken for marcotts to be harvested was affected by media The numbers of successful marcotts There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the total number of successful marcotts of breadfruit produced with the use of different marcotting media. Medium 2(produced significantly higher number of successful marcotts (P< 0.05) than Medium 1 as well as Medium 3 but were comparable to the Control Medium. There was also a real difference between Control Medium and Medium 3 but was comparable to medium 2 (Figure 4.4). This result further support the work reported FAO in 2012 that more than 90 percent success rate was achieved using a medium consisting of 100 percent peat moss and a medium mixed with liquid rooting hormone. The report has attributed this success to the media s good water holding capacity and the inclusion of the liquid hormone providing ideal conditions for good root growth. Cerveny and Gibson, (2005) also proved that powdered forms of rooting hormones are generally less effective than liquid formulation applied at the same concentration. They then explained that marcotting medium with rooting hormone facilitate 28

40 rooting, where cultural practices or environmental conditions are not ideal and also in propagation of moderate and difficult-to-root species a b a Percentage Successful Marcotts b c c 10 0 Control Marcotting medium 1 Marcotting medium 2 Marcotting medium 3 Figure 4.4 Time/days taken for marcotts to be harvested was affected by media. 29

41 4.2 Experiment 2: Comparison study of the two branch sizes and branch locations on Time taken to onset of new roots A real effect of branch size on the early appearance of root growth was observed (P < 0.05). Marcotts performed on big branches (Figure 4.5) had their first roots appeared 10 days earlier (35DAM) compared to marcotts on small branches (45DAM). No real effect of the location of branches on the mother plants or its interaction with branch size was determined. The findings of Goebel 1986 who worked on fruit trees also support the result of this research. He reported that early development of new roots on marcotts was affected by branch size and location on the mother plants. However, the results of this work contradicts the work of Steward (2012) where he found that developing of new roots on marcotted branches is not affected by size of branches but by environmental conditions that can bring about stress to the marcotted branches and mother plant. Days to first root development b b a a Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3 Treatment 4 Treatments Figure 4.5: Onset of root growth on marcotted branches was affected by marcotting medium. 30

42 4.2.2 Percent root ball on marcotts at harvest Real differences (P < 0.05) were seen in root mass measured by percent root ball at harvest between branches of different sizes. Root growth from marcotts developed from big branches filled 96 percent of the marcotting plastic (Figure 4.6), whereas only 22 percent was filled by marcotts from small branches. No real differences (P > 0.05) were seen resulting from location of branches on the mother plant or its interaction with branch size. The result of this work is in agreement with findings of previous works in Southern Queensland by (Menzel, 1991) where he studied the effects of breadfruit branch size on the success of marcotts. He found that big branches at the upper location on mature trees produced more successful marcotts. He explained this to be due to the high amounts of carbohydrates in the big branches. 120 a a Percentage of root ball mass at harvest b b 0 Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3 Treatment 4 Figure4.6: Root ball percentages at harvest were affected from different branch sizes and locations. 31

43 4.2.3 Number of successful marcotts Result showed that there was a significant difference (P< 0.05) in the number of successful marcotts produced between branches of different sizes. Marcotting big branches produced more success compared to small branches (Figure 4.7). There was no effect of location and the interaction of size and location on the number of successful marcotting. The results of this research are supported by work of the Pacific Breadfruit Project Newsletter (2013, p.2-3) and (Menzel 1991) where they obtained more successful marcotts from big branch sizes in any location on the tree. They suggested a higher amount of carbohydrates in the bigger branches was responsible for the success. 120 a a Percentage Successful Marcotts b b 0 Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3 Treatment 4 Figure 4.7: Effects of branch location and branch sizes on the number of successful marcotts produced. differences were found in treatment 2 andtreatment 4 branch sizes thus, branch location does not vary. 32

44 4.2.4 Time taken to harvest a successful marcotts There were no effects (P > 0.05) of branch size or location and their interaction on the time taken to harvest a fully developed marcotts. This result suggests that the length of time required for marcotts to develop a full root ball may depend more on factors other than the size and location of the branch on the mother plant. This result is supported by the findings of the first experiment in this work which showed the time taken for marcotts of breadfruit to develop a full root ball which signals harvest is affected by the marcotting medium. 33

45 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The comparison study of marcotting media in Experiment One revealed that there is an effect of marcotting media on the onset of the first root growth; root mass at harvest; earliness of harvest; and on the total number of successful marcotts. Results showed that marcotting Medium 2 (Peat moss with 10% sphagnum moss and liquid rooting hormone) although not statistically different from the Control Medium (peat moss) which is the standard medium currently used in Fiji, provided the highest percentage of root mass at harvest, earliest harvest of marcotts and the highest total number of successful marcotts. These findings have significant implications for the Breadfruit Rapid Multiplication Project in Fiji where they are using marcotting using only the standard medium which is the Control Medium. It is therefore recommended that the Project uses Medium 2 with the current medium in their marcotting operations for the rapid multiplication of planting materials of breadfruit. This work also found that the use of liquid rooting hormone was more effective than the powdered form and therefore recommends the use of liquid form of hormone. Experiment two studied the effects of different branch sizes and locations of branches on the mother plant on the onset of the first root growth; root mass at harvest; earliness of harvest; and on the total number of successful marcotts. Results indicated that all these variables (the onset of the first root growth; root mass at harvest; earliness of harvest; and the total number of successful marcotts) were dependent on the size of the branches the marcotts were performed on. Again this information is very useful for the Pacific Breadfruit Project in Fiji and it is therefore recommended that marcotting operations should be performed on branches of not less than 3.5 to 4.5 centimeters in diameter if rapid multiplication of breadfruit planting materials is to be successful. Fiji is now targeting the world markets for breadfruit and in pursuing that goal, farming the crop in orchards is necessary to meet market demands. This requires rapid production of planting material of which marcotting is one of the most appropriate propagation methods 34

46 currently in-use and it is envisioned that many Fijian farmers in the future will be utilizing this technology. In order to be successful our goal is to improve and perfect that technology and this thesis may have taken one small step towards that goal. 35

47 REFERENCES Alexander,C.(2009).Captains Blighs Cursed Breadfruit. Retrieved March Friday,30th,2012,from:Google: Cursed-Breadfruit-Jamaica.html#ixzz1qd08jbLA. Arturo A.Gomez and Kwanchai A. Gomez. (1984). Statistical Procedure for Agricultural Agricultural Research. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Bailey, N. (1950). The standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. 1 New York. Barrau, J., Massal, E (1954). Breadfruit South Pacific Comm. Quart. Bull 4 (4), Barrau, J. (1957). Breadfruit Tree in the Oceania. Jour. Agri. Trop. Bot. Appliq. (4) Bowers, R.D. (1981). Breadfruits: A low energy requirement source of carbohydrate for wet tropics. Entwicklung and LanlicherRaum (Germany F.R.) 15(2), Coenen, J. and Barrau, J. (1961).The Breadfruit tree in Micronesia. South Pac. Bull 11 (4), 37. FAO (2012). The lychee crop in Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved November, Thursday,8 th,2012fromgoggle:http// Cerveny C. and Gibson, J. (2005, August, Tuesday).Grower 101: Rooting Hormones. Retrieved July Friday, 2013, from Google: Goodman, R.A. (1972).Plants and Man in Samoa. Pacific Discovery 25, 12-18). Goebel, R. (1986). Propagation of Fruit Tree. Australia: Capriconia Grafting School. Hamilton, R.A., Criley R.A and Chia C.L. (1982).Rooting of stem cuttings of breadfruit under intermittent mist. Proc. Int. Plant Propagators Soc. 32: Kanehira, R. (1931). A desultory talk on the South Seas, 1.Breadfruit.Forestry (Sanrin) 588 (11),

48 Lopez, C.R. (1975). A method to obtain relatively uniform breadfruit trees from a stock plant. J. Agric. Univ. Puerto Rico 59(1): Mackenzie, J.B. (1960). Breadfruit cultivation practices and beliefs in the Marshall Islands Anthrop. Working Paper 8, Mackenzie, J.B., McKnight, R.K.and Lawrence, P. (1964).Breadfruit cultivation practices and beliefs in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Anthrop. Working papers Numbers 7 and 8, p64. Menzel, C. M. (1991).Litchi.In plant Resources of South-East Asia Vol.2.Edible Fruit and Nuts (E.W. M.Ve(Leslie, 1997) and R.E. Coronel, Editors).Pudoc, Wageningen, The Netherlands pp McGregor, A.M. (2006). A Review of Fresh Breadfruit Exports from Fiji Acta Hort. (Citied by Nature s Way, pp2-3). McGregor, A.M and Kumar, S.N. (2007).A Review of Fresh Breadfruit Exports from Fiji Acta Hort. (ISHS) 757: , p3-7, Fiji. Nature s Way Cooperative (Fiji) Ltd. (2002). Strategic Plan , Natures Way Cooperative Nasoso Road, Nadi International Airport. Nature s Way Cooperative (Fiji) Ltd. (2005). A Manual for the Growing and Marketing of Breadfruit for Export, p10-11, Nadi. Purseglove, J.W. (1968). Tropical Crops.Pp (Longmans London). Ragone, D. (1997).BreadfruitArtocarpusaltilis(Parkinson) Forsberg. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute. Rome, Italy. Ragone, D. and Taylor, M.B. (eds 2007). Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Breadfruit Research and Development.International Society for Horticultural Science, Belgium. 37

49 Stewart, A. (2012). A plant propagation manual for Australia. Crows nest, NSW, Australia. Stice, K. (2005). Pacific Breadfruit Manual Book. Nadi,Fiji: Natures Way Cooperative. World Weather Information.(2012). Nadi Weather Information Services.Retrieved March Friday, 30 th, 2012, from Google: Tora, L. (2011). Developing Commercial Breadfruit Production in the South Pacific, Issue 1, pp2-3.decemeber 7, 2011, from Nature s Way Nadi. Trujillo, E.E. (1971). Breadfruit diseases of the Pacific basin.information Document Number 27.South Pac. Comm. Noumea New Caledonia. 38

50 APPENDICES Appendix 1: BALEKANA BREADFRUIT GERMPLASM FIELD PLAN FIELD NAME: SRS FIELD 4 VARIETY: BALEKANA SAMOA PLACE OF ORIGIN: NAVAKAKA, KOROALAU, CAKAUDROVE PLANTING DATE: 04/10/2007 MECHANIC S HOUSE / REST HOUSE F NAV1 NAV4 NAV7 NAV10 NAV13 NAV16 NAV19 SRS I E L NAV2 NAV5 NAV8 NAV11 NAV14 NAV17 NAV20 NAV23 D R O A NAV3 NAV6 NAV9 NAV12 NAV15 NAV18 NAV21 NAV22 D GARDEN - CASSAVA PATCH SIGATOKA RIVER 39

51 Appendix 2: SUMMARY OF THE ELEVEN WEEKS OF DATA COLLECTION ON MARCOTTING MEDIA TOTAL Marcotts Total Total Media Branch Total Number of Number of moisture stress Treatment Block/Tree Success fruits shoots

52

53

54 Appendix 3: SUMMARY OF THE ELEVEN WEEKS OF DATA COLLECTION ON BRANCH LOCATIONS AND BRANCH SIZES TOTAL Sigatoka Data Marcotts Number Number Media Branch Total fruits shoots moisture stress LOCATIONS/SIZES Block Success U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B

55 S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S

56 U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S U L B S Keys ROOT SPREADMedia MoistureBranch Stress 0 - No Sign of Root Development 1 Excellent 1 - Marcotted Branch is Healthy 1 - Root Develops2 Poor2 Marcotted Branch is Stressed or Broken and Dead 45

57 46

58 47

59 48

60 49

61 50

62 51