Detailed Explanation of Chinese Toon Cutting Propagation Techniques, Easily Master the Seedling Raising Method

Chinese toon cutting propagation is divided into 2 types: softwood cuttings and hardwood cuttings.

The key to softwood cuttings lies in the degree of fullness of the cutting tissue. Fully lignified branches root with difficulty or root slowly; if the branches are too tender, they rot easily after insertion. Semi-lignified or mostly lignified branches used as cuttings have a high survival rate. Using sprout branches from the base or trunk as cuttings makes rooting and survival easier than using branches from the crown. The specific method is: from late June to early July, select branches on the main trunk 20cm above the ground that have already become lignified, cut them into small sections of 20cm or 10-15cm, sharpen the lower end into a slanted cut, keep 2 pairs of small leaflets at the base of 1-2 compound leaves on the upper part of the cutting, and cut off all the remaining leaves. Dip the cut end of the cutting in 500mg/L NAA or vitamin D12 solution, insert it at a density of 40cm×40cm into loose, fertile, moist soil, build a small arch shed over the bed, maintain a relative humidity of 85%-90% and a temperature of 20-30°C, and roots form in about 50 days. Chinese toon hardwood cutting seedling raising can both make full use of Chinese toon branch resources and maintain the excellent traits of the mother tree. It is a fast propagation, easy-to-master, scientific and practical technical method. Using robust branches from excellent mother trees, combined with hormone treatment, and strengthening protection and management, 1 month after insertion, 40% of cuttings produce callus tissue, 18% of cuttings grow new roots, and 30% of cuttings begin to sprout. After 2 months, apart from 4% of cuttings drying up, the rooting rate reaches 94%, the sprouting rate is 96%, and the average height growth reaches 6.3cm. For hardwood cuttings, in early winter after Chinese toon leaves fall, select 1-2 year old branches with a thickness of 1.0 to 1.5 cm, cut them into 15-20cm sections, cut the upper end flat, with the cut 1.5 to 2.0 cm from the topmost bud, cut flat, cut the lower end at a slant, and make both the upper and lower cuts smooth. Tie every 100 pieces into a bundle, align the lower ends, and bury them in a wet sand pile for winter storage. Take them out the following spring, soak the lower ends of the cuttings in NAA 500mg/L solution for 2-4h, wash them clean, and insert them into a sunny seedbed with pure sand spread in the bed. After insertion, cover with plastic film, build a small arch shed over the bed, and maintain a temperature of about 25°C and a relative humidity of above 85%. Through a series of management measures, they can be released from the nursery and planted in the same year or the following year.