Acer rubrum twig cuttage method

Abstract

The invention discloses an acer palmatum twig cuttage method, and belongs to the technical field of plant cuttage, and the method comprises the following steps: controlling a greenhouse environment according to set temperature and humidity conditions; a deepened cuttage hole tray is placed on the cuttage seedling bed, a cuttage medium is formed by mixing vermiculite and perlite according to a set proportion, and after being disinfected, the medium stands in a greenhouse and is loaded into the tray; the method comprises the following steps: selecting current-year semi-lignified coppice shoots, washing the coppice shoots with clear water after harvesting, cutting leaves in half during spike making, reserving a pair of axillary buds, cutting the axillary buds into cutting spike sections with the length of 5-8cm under the buds, and putting the cutting spike sections into a bactericide; soaking the lower part of the cutting bud with a rooting agent for a set time; the cutting depth is 1 / 2 of the length of the spike section, keeping the temperature and humidity in the greenhouse after cutting, and spraying a bactericide and a rooting agent according to set time; after the root system is mature and brown, transplanting into a pot. According to the cuttage method, the rooting period of the acer palmatum is shortened and only needs 20-30 days, and the rooting rate of the acer palmatum is increased and can reach 50% or above.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of plant cutting technology, specifically relating to a method for propagating young branches of Acer rubrum by cutting. Background Technology

[0002] *Acer griseum*, a deciduous tree belonging to the genus *Acer* in the family Sapindaceae, is endemic and rare in China. Native to central and southwestern China, it possesses significant ornamental, economic, medicinal, and stress-resistant value. In nature, it reproduces and regenerates through seeds. *Acer griseum* suffers from harsh habitats, produces few seeds per tree, has a high rate of empty seeds, and population dynamics analysis indicates degradation, making its wild resources endangered. Seed propagation studies have shown a germination rate of only 0.6% in field experiments.

[0003] Asexual reproduction is an essential method for resource conservation, breeding, and the promotion of improved varieties, and cutting propagation is of great significance. Softwood cutting is a commonly used technique; however, *Acer rubrum* (red maple) requires high temperatures and moisture levels for summer softwood cuttings, with stringent requirements for substrate aeration and water retention. Low temperatures result in slow growth, a long rooting period, and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, hindering rooting. High temperatures increase the water demand of the cuttings, potentially causing scalding. Post-cutting management, such as spraying, rapidly reduces hormone levels in the treated cuttings, making rooting extremely difficult. Conventional cutting techniques are insufficient to meet these requirements. Current experiments on softwood cutting of *Acer rubrum* only use stem segments (softwood branches) as experimental material, with low rooting rates, all below 20%, failing to meet the needs of large-scale production.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a method to improve the rooting rate of blood maple cuttings. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a method for improving the rooting rate and survival rate of *Acer rubrum* cuttings.

[0006] The present invention adopts the following technical solution.

[0007] This invention discloses a method for propagating Acer rubrum by cuttings, the method comprising the following steps: Environmental control: Control the greenhouse environment according to the set temperature and humidity conditions; Preparation of the propagation bed and substrate: Place the cutting trays on the seedling bed. The substrate is vermiculite and perlite. After the substrate is disinfected, let it stand in the greenhouse before placing the trays. Selection and pruning of blood maple cuttings: Select semi-lignified sprouts from the current year, rinse them with clean water after harvesting, cut the leaves in half when preparing the cuttings, retain one pair of axillary buds, cut them into cuttings with a length of 5-8 cm below the bud, and place them in a fungicide. Root dipping treatment for cuttings: Soak the part of the cutting below the bud in rooting agent for a set time; Cuttings and post-cutting management: Insert the cuttings into the cutting substrate to a depth of 1 / 2 of the cutting length. After cutting, maintain the temperature and humidity in the greenhouse and spray fungicide, insecticide and rooting agent at the set time. Transplanting: After the roots turn from white watery roots to mature brown, transplant them into pots.

[0008] Preferably, the greenhouse control includes setting up an external shading curtain, a wet curtain, and an automatic spraying device, with the external shading curtain and wet curtain opened inside the greenhouse during the day.

[0009] Preferably, the automatic spraying device is set to spray for 15 seconds at 3-minute intervals from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm during the day, and spray for 25 seconds at 5-minute intervals at night.

[0010] Preferably, the indoor temperature is set and controlled at 27-29℃, and the substrate temperature is set and controlled at 23-26℃.

[0011] Preferably, the ratio of vermiculite to perlite in the cutting substrate is 2:1.

[0012] Preferably, the disinfection of the cutting substrate includes mixing a bactericide into the cutting substrate and stirring evenly, and then spraying the substrate thoroughly with 100ppm potassium permanganate and covering it with a plastic film.

[0013] Preferably, the selected current-year semi-lignified shoots have a thickness of 0.5 cm or more.

[0014] Preferably, the fungicide is any one of carbendazim or chlorothalonil; The insecticide is any one of the following: imidacloprid, deltamethrin, or cypermethrin.

[0015] Preferably, the rooting agent is indole-naphthaleneacetic acid, and the soaking time is set to 20-30 minutes.

[0016] Preferably, the timed application of the fungicide involves spraying the fungicide and insecticide once every 7-10 days, and the timed application of the rooting agent involves adding 1 mg / L of rooting agent to the spray water once a week.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention include at least the following: Existing Acer rubrum cutting techniques cannot achieve the production requirement of a rooting rate of over 50%. There is no systematic technical introduction, only optimization of cutting substrate and hormone treatment, and the experimental results show a low rooting rate.

[0018] This application selects different types of substrates and hormones, and provides temperature and humidity control ranges in the cutting method, emphasizes the requirements for cutting preparation, and specifies the use of substrates, hormones, fungicides, and insecticides to prevent damage to cuttings from high summer temperatures and the effects of pests and diseases. It also determines the soaking time for hormone treatment, the time interval for water supply, and the maintenance of a suitable temperature range. Furthermore, after cutting, a certain amount of rooting solution is added weekly for spraying as a post-treatment maintenance and management measure, demonstrating a relatively systematic and complete technology.

[0019] The cutting method described in this application can start to root in a short period of time (20-30 days), with good rooting quality, effectively promoting the rooting rate of Acer rubrum, which can reach more than 50%. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cutting of scions in this invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram (a) of rooting of cuttings through lenticels in an embodiment of the present invention, a schematic diagram (b) of new roots growing after 20 days of cuttings, and a schematic diagram (c) of the number and length of roots growing after 30 days of cuttings. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the most rooted scions in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the lignification and browning of the roots of the blood-bark maple cuttings in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this invention. The embodiments described in this application are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the spirit of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this invention.

[0022] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for propagating Acer rubrum by cuttings, the method comprising the following steps: Step 1: Environmental control, including daytime temperature and humidity in the greenhouse; Specifically, the process takes place in a greenhouse from mid-June to the end of July, where an automatic spraying system is installed.

[0023] Furthermore, the external sunshade curtain and wet curtain are opened from 9:00 to 17:00. During the day, the indoor temperature is controlled at 27-29℃, the substrate temperature is controlled at 23-26℃, and the automatic spraying device is set to spray for 15 seconds at 3 minutes intervals from 7:30 to 5:00 in the daytime and spray for 25 seconds at 5 minutes intervals at night. Blood-bark maple has high requirements for temperature and moisture in summer. The inventors found that maintaining the temperature in the greenhouse at 27-29℃ and the substrate temperature at 23-26℃ is conducive to the rooting of blood-bark maple cuttings.

[0024] Step Two: Preparation of the propagation bed and substrate; The cutting bed is a seedling bed with 21-hole deepened cutting trays placed on it.

[0025] The substrate is made by mixing vermiculite and perlite in a 2:1 ratio, adding carbendazim and imidacloprid powder and stirring evenly. After being thoroughly moistened with 100 ppm potassium permanganate, it is covered with plastic film and left to stand in the greenhouse for 1-2 days before being loaded into trays. Preferably, the mixing ratio of carbendazim powder to cutting substrate is 3 kg of 75% carbendazim powder per 1 m3 of substrate.

[0026] Blood-bark maple has strict requirements for substrate aeration and water retention. Mixing vermiculite and perlite in a suitable ratio is beneficial for loose and breathable seedbeds. Adding fungicide to the substrate and spraying it thoroughly with potassium permanganate before covering it with plastic can effectively disinfect and kill insect eggs, reducing the reduction in rooting rate caused by disease and pest infection.

[0027] Step 3: Selection and pruning of blood-bark maple cuttings; Select semi-lignified shoots from the current year, 0.8-1.2 cm in diameter. When preparing cuttings, halve the leaves, retain one pair of axillary buds, and cut into 5-8 cm long cuttings below the bud. Figure 1 As shown, when placed in a fungicide, the thickness of the current year's semi-lignified branches reaching 0.5cm or more can effectively ensure that the cuttings have a good survival quality after survival. Specifically, the strips were collected before 9:00 AM, kept moist with clean water after collection, and rinsed with running water for 10 minutes after being brought back. Since cuttings are collected in Beijing from June to August, when the average daytime temperature can reach over 35 degrees Celsius, collecting them before 9:00 AM minimizes moisture loss before temperatures rise, preserving the vitality of the cuttings. Moisture content significantly impacts the survival rate of cuttings, and cuttings can be planted on the same day they are collected. Furthermore, cuttings collected in summer generally need to be kept moist in clean water. Outdoor collection conditions are harsh, with insufficient moisture and difficulty in timely water changes. If collection is done too late, the rising temperature and low moisture content can easily cause the water temperature to rise too quickly, damaging the cuttings and affecting their survival rate.

[0028] In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the bactericide is any one of carbendazim or chlorothalonil, and more preferably, the bactericide is 2000 times chlorothalonil.

[0029] After harvesting, rinse the cuttings with clean water to remove dirt, and then place them in a fungicide solution to improve the sterilization and disinfection effect.

[0030] Step 4: Root dipping treatment, soak the lower part of the cutting bud in rooting hormone; In a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the lower part of the cutting bud is soaked in a 500 mg / L indole-naphthaleneacetic acid solution for 20-30 min; Step 5: Cuttings and post-cutting management. The cutting depth is 1 / 2 of the length of the cutting. After cutting, maintain the temperature and humidity in the greenhouse and spray fungicide, insecticide and rooting agent. Specifically, strictly maintain the required indoor temperature and humidity, spray regularly, and apply fungicide and insecticide every 7-10 days. Add 1 mg / L rooting agent to the spray water once a week. Roots will develop after 35 days. Figure 2 As shown in ac, it is a schematic diagram of rooting of cuttings through lenticels, a schematic diagram of new roots growing after 20 days of cuttings, and a schematic diagram of the number and length of roots after 30 days of cuttings. The highest rooting rate is 60%.

[0031] Spraying fungicides and insecticides after cutting propagation helps prevent the cuttings and substrate from becoming infected with pests and diseases, and can significantly improve the rooting rate and survival rate of the cuttings. The insecticides mentioned are agents such as imidacloprid, deltamethrin, or cypermethrin.

[0032] During the post-cutting management process, spraying is an important factor in maintaining the humidity of the cuttings. However, excessive spraying can cause a rapid decrease in the hormones treated on the cuttings, making it extremely difficult for the cuttings to root. In the early experiments, the inventor team realized that simply maintaining temperature and humidity could not significantly improve the rooting rate of the cuttings. However, after adding rooting agent treatment, the root system not only grew faster but also had better quality. Therefore, regular treatment with rooting agent can promote the survival rate of transplanted cuttings.

[0033] Step Six: Transplanting. Once the roots turn brown from being watery, the plant can be transplanted into a pot.

[0034] After the plant roots turn brown, such as Figure 4 As shown, the root system is relatively mature at this stage, making it suitable for transplanting and facilitating the subsequent growth of the cuttings.

[0035] Example 1 The method for propagating blood-bark maple by cuttings includes the following steps: (1) Selection of cutting time, cutting bed and cutting substrate: 20 Acer rubrum cuttings were taken on June 17, 2024; 3×7 21-hole deep cutting trays were selected, shaded outside the greenhouse, and the width of the movable seedbed could accommodate 6 trays; vermiculite and perlite were mixed in a volume ratio of 2:1 as the cutting substrate and the substrate was disinfected.

[0036] (2) Cuttings and cuttings: Select semi-lignified branches of the current year with a thickness of 0.8-1.2cm. Collect the cuttings before 9:00 am. Immediately after collection, put them in clean water and rinse them under running water for 10 minutes after bringing them back. When making cuttings, cut the leaves in half, retain one pair of axillary buds, and cut them into cuttings with a length of 5-8cm below the bud. Keep the cuttings moist before and after collection. Soak them in 500ppm indolebutyric acid·naphthaleneacetic acid (the effective components and their contents are 2.5% indolebutyric acid and 2.5% naphthaleneacetic acid) for 30 minutes. The cutting depth is 3-5cm. Spray the cuttings promptly after planting. (3) Post-cutting management: The temperature in the greenhouse should be controlled below 30℃ and above 24℃; spray fungicide, insecticide and rooting agent every 7-10 days; The results of Example 1 showed that roots began to emerge on July 1, and 12 cuttings rooted by July 31. Each cutting had 3-10 roots, with a root length of 5-8 cm and a rooting rate of 60%.

[0037] Example 2 The method for propagating blood-bark maple by cuttings includes the following steps: (1) Selection of cutting time, cutting bed and cutting substrate: 12 Acer rubrum cuttings were taken on July 28, 2024; 3×7 21-hole deep cutting trays were selected, shaded outside the greenhouse, and the width of the seedbed was 6 trays wide; vermiculite and perlite were mixed in a volume ratio of 2:1 as the cutting substrate and the substrate was disinfected.

[0038] (2) Cuttings and cuttings: Select semi-lignified branches with a thickness of 0.5cm or more from the current year. Collect the cuttings before 9:00 am. Immediately after collection, put them in clean water and rinse them under running water for 10 minutes after bringing them back. When preparing the cuttings, cut the leaves in half, retain one pair of axillary buds, and cut them into cuttings with a length of 5-8cm below the bud. Keep the cuttings moist before and after collection. Soak them in 500ppm indolebutyric acid·naphthaleneacetic acid (the effective components and their contents are 2.5% indolebutyric acid and 2.5% naphthaleneacetic acid) for 30 minutes. The cutting depth is 3-5cm. Spray the cuttings promptly after planting. (3) Post-cutting management: The temperature in the greenhouse should be controlled below 30℃ and above 24℃; spray every 7-10 days and apply fungicide, insecticide and rooting agent.

[0039] The results of Example 2 showed that roots emerged on August 30th, and a total of 6 rooted cuttings were completed by September 25th. Each cutting had 3-4 roots, each 3-5 cm long, resulting in a rooting rate of 50%. Figure 3 As shown.

[0040] Comparative Example 1 Using the softwood cutting experiment of Acer rubrum conducted by Guo Xingfei et al. as a comparative example, the softwood cutting materials were collected from the base in Taowan Town, Luanchuan County, Luoyang City. The softwood cuttings were selected from the upper and middle parts of the crown of healthy, uniform, and disease-free mother trees and spring cutting experiments were conducted.

[0041] (1) Select cuttings that are about 10 cm long, each with 2-3 buds and 1-2 leaves. Before planting, soak the cuttings in a 0.5% potassium permanganate solution for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse them with distilled water.

[0042] (2) The cuttings were soaked in IBA (100, 500, 1000 mg / L), NAA (100, 500, 1000 mg / L), and ABT1 (100, 500, 1000 mg / L), respectively. When the NAA concentration was 100 mg / L, the cuttings were inserted into a mixture of A: peat moss + perlite + river soil (2:1:2), B: vermiculite + perlite + river soil (3:1:2), and C: peat moss + perlite + vermiculite (3:1:2) for substrate comparison test.

[0043] (3) The results of cuttings under various treatments, including rooting rate and growth status, were observed, statistically analyzed, and analyzed over 20 days.

[0044] The results of Comparative Example 1 showed that the rooting rate of stem cuttings of Acer rubrum was the highest, at 18.54%.

[0045] In summary, the experimental results show that the rooting rate of *Acer rubrum* cuttings obtained by using Examples 1 and 2 of this application is significantly better than that of Comparative Example 1. The rooting rates of Examples 1 and 2 are comparable, with more roots and a shorter rooting cycle. This indicates that the use of substrate disinfection, temperature and humidity control, and rooting agents in this application can effectively promote the rooting of *Acer rubrum* cuttings and improve the rooting rate and survival rate.

[0046] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention include at least the following: Existing techniques for propagating blood maple by cuttings are incomplete, lacking a systematic approach to key techniques and focusing only on the treatment of the cutting substrate and hormones, resulting in low rooting rates. This application selects different types of substrates and hormones, emphasizing their use in the cutting method to prevent summer branch disease and pest infestation; it provides information on hormone treatment soaking time, water supply management time and intervals, and maintaining a suitable temperature range; furthermore, it includes weekly addition of rooting solution as a post-propagation maintenance measure, demonstrating a relatively systematic and complete replicable technique.

[0047] The cutting method described in this application enables blood maple to root in a short period of time, requiring only 20-30 days, effectively improving the rooting rate of blood maple to over 50%.

[0048] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the specific implementation of the present invention. Any modifications or equivalent substitutions that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for propagating Acer rubrum by cuttings, characterized in that: The method includes the following steps: Environmental control: Control the greenhouse environment according to the set temperature and humidity conditions; Preparation of the propagation bed and substrate: Place the cutting trays on the seedling bed. The substrate is vermiculite and perlite. After the substrate is disinfected, let it stand in the greenhouse before placing the trays. Selection and pruning of blood maple cuttings: Select semi-lignified sprouts from the current year, rinse them with clean water after harvesting, cut the leaves in half when preparing the cuttings, retain one pair of axillary buds, cut them into cuttings with a length of 5-8 cm below the bud, and place them in a fungicide. Root dipping treatment for cuttings: Soak the part of the cutting below the bud in rooting agent for a set time; Cuttings and post-cutting management: Insert the cuttings into the cutting substrate to a depth of 1 / 2 of the cutting length. After cutting, maintain the temperature and humidity in the greenhouse and spray fungicide, insecticide and rooting agent at the set time. Transplanting: After the roots turn from white watery roots to mature brown, transplant them into pots.

2. The method for propagating *Acer rubrum* by cuttings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The environmental control includes setting up external shading curtains, wet curtains, and automatic spraying devices. During the day, the external shading curtains and wet curtains are opened inside the greenhouse.

3. The method for propagating *Acer rubrum* by cuttings according to claim 2, characterized in that: The automatic spraying device is set to spray for 15 seconds at 3-minute intervals from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm during the day, and spray for 25 seconds at 5-minute intervals at night.

4. The method for propagating *Acer rubrum* by cuttings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The indoor temperature is set and controlled at 27-29℃, and the substrate temperature is set and controlled at 23-26℃.

5. The method for propagating *Acer rubrum* by cuttings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ratio of vermiculite to perlite in the cutting substrate is 2:

1.

6. The method for propagating *Acer rubrum* by cuttings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The disinfection of the cutting substrate includes mixing a bactericide into the cutting substrate and stirring it evenly, and then spraying it thoroughly with 100ppm potassium permanganate and covering the substrate with a plastic film.

7. The method for propagating *Acer rubrum* by cuttings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The selected current-year semi-lignified shoots should have a thickness of 0.5 cm or more.

8. The method for propagating *Acer rubrum* by cuttings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bactericide is either carbendazim or chlorothalonil; The insecticide is any one of imidacloprid, deltamethrin, or cypermethrin.

9. The method for propagating *Acer rubrum* by cuttings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rooting agent is indole-naphthaleneacetic acid, and the soaking time is set to 20-30 minutes.

10. A method for propagating *Acer rubrum* by cuttings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The set time for spraying the fungicide is to spray the fungicide and insecticide once every 7-10 days, and the set time for spraying the rooting agent is to add 1 mg / L of rooting agent to the spray water once a week.

Images