UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND VETERINARY MEDICINE CLUJ NAPOCA HORTICULTURE FACULTY Eng. Georgel Constantin MAZĂRE SUMMARY OF PhD THESIS RESEARCHES CONCERNING IMPROVEMENT THE PLANTING MATERIAL PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY FOR PICEA SPECIES AND DIVERSIFICATION OF ITS USES Scientifically Coordinator, Prof. PhD Dumitru ZAHARIA CLUJ-NAPOCA 2010 50
Without these resinous with persistent foliage, which increases their artistic value, appearance and landscaping of parks and gardens would lose their charm in winter. They forming an ornament with an important artistic effect for green spaces (LUBAN, 1959; NOORDHUIS, 2008; HESSAYON, 1993; WINES, 2000). The last time in our country was introduced a big number of new coniferous species and varieties with high ornamental value. Even though they are widely produced externally and can meet market demand, there are a lot of cases in which the plants suffer after they are planted because of our climatic conditions. Species covered by this research can be found on the Romanian market, in large part from the outside and only in few cases produced in our nurseries. The main reason why these species are not widely produced in our country is the difficult propagation, feature common to the ornamental conifers. The only species that reaches the maturity and can fructify in our parks and green spaces and becausse of that can be multiplied by low-costs is Picea pungens, precisely its varieties. But this fact is not enough to get copies of high landscape significance because, even at the begin the copies present the neddles color the same with the parental variety, over time it disappears (RUBŢOV, 1958, HILL, 1989). The only possibility for the propagation of these varieties in order to get copies that keeping for a long time this feature, needles color, is the vegetative way. In the case of the varieties that cannot fructify in our climate conditions, Picea abies Nidiformis and Picea glauca Conica, their only way of propagation is vegetative propagation. This has some drawbacks: the rooting of uttings needs a very long time and and special conditions, and concerning the grafting, that means a low percentage of surviving grafts and the technology requires a qualified personal, with a big experience. Based on these assumptions, the objectives of this paper are to improve the technology of obtaining these cultivars by vegetative way. To achieve the objectives of this paper, there were organized cutting experiments on two cultivars of the above genus, Picea abies Nidiformis and Picea glauca Conica and grafting experience on a form of the species Picea pungens, Argentea. The Picea abies species, popular known as spruce or fir molift red, the only indigenous species of those studied. Is a large tree, which is recommended as an ornamental species, particularly forest-park land. They must have the composition 30-35% conifers for winter to ensure a green wrapper (MILE, 1973). As a young spruce can be used and built to hedgerow arrangement, as a species are susceptible to shearing (RUBŢOV, 1958; ŞOFLETEA, 2001). Even it hasn t a big forest importance due to low growths and wood s low quality (DUMITRIU-TĂTĂREANU, 1960) Picea pungens is a very decorative species, common in parks and gardens. There are cultivated the forms with silver rimed needles (Picea pungens f. argentea and glauca) obtained in Europe, by gardeners 51
selection (RUBŢOV, 1958). As GEORGESCU said, (1935) the argentea form were obtained in the Netherlands, where from it was worldwide spread, even in America. In addition to color, its ornamental value may be in compact crowns (var. compacta) sometimes with the I-order branches pendent (var. kosteriana) (ŞOFLETEA, 2001). Decorative qualities of this species are made best in value if the trees are isolated planted or the trees are rare planted in small groups, the groups with high consistence having trees with inaesthetic features (DUMITRIU-TĂTĂREANU, 1960). Picea glauca Conica and Picea abies Nidiformis are very popular in green spaces, often used in containers. They never lose their shape, being used especially in small gardens. Experiences were placed during three years, between 2006 and 2008, in two locations: the Arboriculture and Flowery greenhouses belonging to UASVM and Mihai Viteazu Nursery, Turda. In order to organize the experiments, in the first year of doctoral study I made visits to a number of nurseries in the country, where there was producing ornamental species of spruce, including: Mihai Viteazu nursery - Cluj, Gura Humorului Nursery - Suceava, Bontida Nursery - Cluj, Voivodeni Nursery - Mures, Lunca Ilvei Nursery - Bistrita. The experiences were organized so that, from measurements and their interpretation, the objectives for this study can be met. For that it was watched the technique concerning the experiences organizing (ARDELEANU et al., 2002). The results were statistically processed by variance analysis method. For both cultivars studied on the cuttings experiences, Picea abies Nidiformis and Picea glauca Conica, the experiences were organized during the spring, as "green cuttings" They were placed in the UASVM greenhouses and Mihai Viteazu nursery s greenhouses, before the annual growth to appear, early in March. In both experimental fields, the cuttings were conducted as two trifactorial experiments, the factors being representating by species, method of shaping the cuttings, the rooting and rooting promoters. The first cutting experience is a trifactorial experience, 2 x 2 x 6 type, with the following factors and graduations: - Species: Picea abies Nidiformis, Picea glauca Conica - The shaping of cuttings: with heel, with hook - Rooting substrate: sand, perlite, peat, sand + perlite (1:1), sand + peat (1:1), perlite + peat (1:1) Second cuttings experience is a trifactoiral one, 2 x 2 x 4 type, with the following factors and graduations: - Species: Picea abies Nidiformis, Picea glauca Conica - The shaping of cuttings: with heel, with hook - Rooting promoter: untreated cutting, Radistim 2, Radistim 3, Radistim solution To study the influence of various factors on the process of grafting, there were organized seven grafting experiments on Picea pungens Argeneta species, in five experiments being used side grafting method and in two of them splint grafting method. 52
Factor A- stock s vegetative stage a 1 less active stock (just at roots level) a 2 well active stock (opened buds) Synthetic presentation of side grafting experiences Experience I Factor B graft s vegetative stage b 1 unactive graft b 2 - unactive graft, refrigerated b 3 active graft Table 1 Factor C time of stock s cut above the grafting point c 1 next spring c 2 in the grafting year, after the buds are opened Experience II Factor A- stock s vegetative stage Factor B grafting level b 1 below first verticil a 1 - less active stock (just at roots level) b 2 between first and second a 2 - well active stock (opened buds) verticil b 3 abobe second verticil Experience III Factor A stock s diameter at grafting level a 1-0,5 cm a 2-0,7 cm a 3-1,0 cm Factor A stock type a 1 normal stock, at first grafting a 2 stock grafted once (regrafting) Factor B graft s length b 1-7 cm b 2-9 cm Experience IV Factor B grafting level on stock Experience V Factor A binding material a 1 polyetilene a 2 raffia + grafting wax b 1 below last grafting(below first verticil) b 2 at the same level with last grafting (between first and second verticil) b 3 above the last grafting (above the second verticil) Factor B - graft s length b 1-7 cm b 2-9 cm The side grafting were polifactorials type, namely bifactorial and trifactorial. Factors studied in these experiments were: stockţs vegetative stage, grafts vegetative stage, time of graft s removal above the grafting point, grafting level on stock, graft s length, stock s diameter at the grafting point, the binding materialand the regrafting posibility. In the next table there are synthetic presented the five side grafting experiences: The splint graftings, in number two, followed the influence of stock s vegetative stage, graft s vegetative stage and binding material on grafting s success. The experiences are summarized in the table below: 53
Experience I Factor A - stock s vegetative stage Factor B - binding material a 1 less active stock (just at roots level) a 1 polyetilene a 2 well active stock (opened buds) a 2 raffia + grafting wax Experience II Factor A- graft s vegetative stage a 1 unactive graft, refrigerated a 2 active graft Factor B - binding material a 1 polyetilene a 2 raffia + grafting wax The conclusions from the analysis results allow formulation of recommendations on purpose to obtain easely in the future the studied species propagation. The main recommendation is the using of cuttings with hell, for both species, which gave better results than those with hook. As well, better rooting results were given when were used as rooting substrate root mixed substrates, consisting of two elements in equal proportions (sand, perlite, peat). A significant positive role in the development of root system had the substrates that contained peat. The rooting promoters did not show a positive contribution to cuttings rooting, except Radistim solution promoter, which presented superior results concerning the number of rooted cuttings, compared with untreated cuttings. The main recommendation about grafting process concerning the grafting method and the material used in linking grafted partners. The best grafting method is represented by side grafting. The second method of grafting, in our experiences conditions, provided no alive graft. As well, the isolation point of grafting with polietylene ensure a higher percentage of alive grafts compared with natural raffia and wax grafted. 54