Aspects of honeybush tea (Cyclopia species) propagation

Thesis (MScAgric (Agronomy)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.

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Main Author: Mbangcolo, Mongezi Morrison
Other Authors: Reinten, E.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2008
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access_status_str Open Access
author Mbangcolo, Mongezi Morrison
author2 Reinten, E.
author_browse Mbangcolo, Mongezi Morrison
Reinten, E.
author_facet Reinten, E.
Mbangcolo, Mongezi Morrison
author_sort Mbangcolo, Mongezi Morrison
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MScAgric (Agronomy)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1593
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:41:19.170Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2008
publishDateRange 2008
publishDateSort 2008
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1593 Aspects of honeybush tea (Cyclopia species) propagation Mbangcolo, Mongezi Morrison Reinten, E. Agenbag, G. A. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Agronomy. Cyclopia species Propagation of honeybush tea Dissertations -- Agronomy Theses -- Agronomy Agriculture Thesis (MScAgric (Agronomy)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. Honeybush (Cyclopia spp. Fabaceae) is indigenous to the fynbos botanical biome of the Eastern and Western Cape of South Africa. The increase in the international demand for honeybush tea for health benefits, concern over exploitation of wild populations and the lack of published agronomic information necessitated this study to evaluate different aspects of honeybush propagation. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of species and cutting position on rooting of cuttings of Cyclopia species using different rooting hormones, to evaluate the effect of an organic plant fertilizer and cutting position on growth and establishment of rooted cuttings and to study the influence of different seed pre-treatments on germination of Cyclopia species. Terminal and sub-terminal cuttings of C. intermedia and C. genistoides treated with different rooting hormones were rooted under day/night temperature controlled glasshouse conditions. Intermittent mist was used as means of moisture supply to the cuttings for 45-60 seconds daily every 30 minutes. C. genistoides rooted significantly better compared to C. intermedia as measured by rooting percentage, number of roots per cutting, length of longest root and mean root length during the summer season. The cutting position had a significant effect on rooting of the cuttings in summer compared to winter and spring season. The interactive effect of species, treatment and cutting position resulted into 86% of rooting in summer from the terminal cuttings of C. genistoides, while only 4% was recorded as the highest rooting percentage in both winter and spring seasons. The highest number of roots and the greatest root length per cutting were obtained with 2 and 4 g L-1 IBA from terminal cuttings of C. genistoides and these hormone concentrations were not significantly different to each other. To evaluate the effect of an organic plant fertilizer and cutting position on plant growth and establishment, rooted cuttings of two Cyclopia species (C. intermedia and C. genistoides) from two cutting positions (terminal and sub-terminal) were transferred to pots (576 cm3) and treated with Nitrosol fertilizer at application rates of 3.33 ml.L-1, 1.67 ml.L-1 and 0 ml.L-1 (control). Cyclopia plantlets were uniformly inoculated once with a symbiotic Rhizobium bacteria to improve the formation of nodules. Nitrosol® at 3.33 ml.L-1 significantly affected fresh and dry plant weight, fresh and dry root weight, number of shoots and nodules per plant compared to either 1.67 ml.L-1 or the control. Relative to species, C. genistoides performed better in terms of fresh and dry plant weight, fresh and dry root weight, and number of shoots and nodules per plant compared to C. intermedia. The origin of the cutting position did not significantly affect the above mentioned parameters. Plant mineral analysis revealed that most of the essential elements increased with increasing Nitrosol® application rates, with C. genistoides having higher levels of mineral elements than C. intermedia. This could be an indication of the differences between the two species in terms of nutrient uptake, utilization and distribution within the plant tissues. In the germination studies, seeds obtained from different seed sources of Cyclopia species were subjected to different pre-sowing treatments. Seed treatments were sulphuric acid (95%), hot water (100°C), water with smoke paper disk, and demineralised water (control). The study revealed that all the treatments had a significant effect on germination with the exception of eight year old seeds obtained from C. subternata (seed source two). Although hot water treatment improved germination compared to smoked paper disk and the control, seeds treated with hot water degenerated rapidly. The highest overall germination (77.33%) was found with one year old seeds compared to other seed sources older than one year. Although smoked paper disks generally did not improve germination compared to the control, in one year old seeds from seed source one, this treatment greatly influenced germination, suggesting that seed age might have influenced germination of these seeds. In terms of germination rate, germination generally started after four days in most treatments. Masters 2008-11-07T08:40:18Z 2010-06-01T08:28:10Z 2008-11-07T08:40:18Z 2010-06-01T08:28:10Z 2008-12 Thesis en Stellenbosch University application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Cyclopia species
Propagation of honeybush tea
Dissertations -- Agronomy
Theses -- Agronomy
Agriculture
Mbangcolo, Mongezi Morrison
Aspects of honeybush tea (Cyclopia species) propagation
title Aspects of honeybush tea (Cyclopia species) propagation
title_full Aspects of honeybush tea (Cyclopia species) propagation
title_fullStr Aspects of honeybush tea (Cyclopia species) propagation
title_full_unstemmed Aspects of honeybush tea (Cyclopia species) propagation
title_short Aspects of honeybush tea (Cyclopia species) propagation
title_sort aspects of honeybush tea cyclopia species propagation
topic Cyclopia species
Propagation of honeybush tea
Dissertations -- Agronomy
Theses -- Agronomy
Agriculture
work_keys_str_mv AT mbangcolomongezimorrison aspectsofhoneybushteacyclopiaspeciespropagation