Vegetative Propagation of Key Southwestern Woody Riparian Species

Abstract

A series of laboratory and greenhouse experiments were designed with the objective of determining effective methods of vegetatively propagating selected woody riparian species for use in restoration of Southwestern riparian habitats. Cuttings from four major southwest riparian species including Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Goodding Willow (Salix gooddingii), Arizona Sycamore (Platanus wrightii), and Arizona Walnut (juglans major) were collected along the Gila River in western New Mexico. Propagation studies with hardwood and root cuttings were performed. Results from these studies determined that Fremont Cottonwood and Goodding Willow could be readily propagated from dormant stem cuttings. Nodal explants from the laboratory -grown Arizona walnut seedlings were tissue -cultured in order to develop a method to mass produce this difficult to propagate species. A nutrient and hormone solution was formulated that resulted in shoot proliferation of Arizona walnut explants in vitro.