Infodoc : Sciences, Techniques et Culture

Woody species survive or regenerate using different ways which are not always well defined. The potentialities of vegetative regeneration of more than 875 woody species have been collected in the table. 360 (or 41%) are common in Africa. More of 310 African species mentioned here produce root suckers. The root suckering process has been particulary studied. Terrestrial layer, basal sprout, collar sprout, root cutting (and not stem cutting)), rhizome, stolon, lignotuber and some other particularities have been taken into account to a certain extent. This list includes both observations checked in the field, and simple facts without any new scientific arguments. Only six species can develop an independant root network and so, be independant from the mother-tree. The most important objec[...]

Woody species survive or regenerate using different ways which are not always well defined. The potentialities of vegetative regeneration of more than 875 woody species have been collected in the table. 360 (or 41%) are common in Africa. More of 310 African species mentioned here produce root suckers. The root suckering process has been particulary studied. Terrestrial layer, basal sprout, collar sprout, root cutting (and not stem cutting)), rhizome, stolon, lignotuber and some other particularities have been taken into account to a certain extent. This list includes both observations checked in the field, and simple facts without any new scientific arguments. Only six species can develop an independant root network and so, be independant from the mother-tree. The most important objectives of this article are to improve the knowledge of these potentialities and to exhort the scientific community to clarify the definitions of the observed phenomenon. Some
extensive research in this field have been neglected until now, specially in Africa, and however, they are essential. In the daily practice, it would be necessary to take advantage of these processes. Tecnics in order to induce root suckering and terrestrial layering are very simple and cheap. Useful multipurpose trees could be propagated around the fields at low cost and a short scale by rural and unfortunate populations, which are often far from the urban nurseries.