Study the Effects of Environmental Conditions of Baghdad City on Propagation and Growth of Ficus religiosa

Abstract

Because of the exceptional importance of Ficus religiosa Linn, the current study was conducted to identify the effect of environmental conditions of Baghdad city on the propagation of this species. The study concentrated on the possibility of propagation by seeds and cutting. For seed propagation two factors were studied in laboratory; First: time of collection, and second: seed pretreatments. Vegetative propagation was tested by cuttings through field experiment. Date of collection and cutting diameter were the two factors subjected to study. Results showed the failure of seed germination in spite of radical development in about 40% of seeds after one day only. All these radicals stopped elongation and dead through 2 – 3 days. Pretreatments could not affect this result regardless to type of treatment. For cutting the critical factor was the date of cutting collection. Results showed 100% failure of cutting collected before 60 days from date of planting, while all cuttings collected at the same day of planting succeeded (100%) in developing well root and shoot. New growths were found to be proportional with cutting diameter.