| Abstract: | Individual specimens of Quercus shummardii Buckl., Quercus virginiana Mill., and X Quercus comptonae Sar. (Ness hybrid oak) were selected for three propagation experiments. Stem tip cuttings, root cuttings and excised shoot apices respectively comprised the plant portions chosen for these three experiments. Juvenile, semi-hardwood stem tip cutting bases of Q. virginiana treated with either a 10,000 ppm IBA powder preparation or a 10,000 ppm IBA solution for a 30-second dip and placed under intermittent mist for 12 weeks displayed the highest rates of rooting. Mature stem tip cuttings of all three species showed no rooting response regardless of treatment. Root cuttings placed into peat-perlite media under a plastic tent exhibited extremely low rates of shoot production. 120 shoot apices excised from disinfested, actively developing buds of Q. shummardii were transferred into tissue culture resulting in high rates of contamination and tissue oxidation. Four shoot apices remained alive and uncontaminated 30 days following the initial transfers. |
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