PROPAGATION OF ELAEAGNUS ×EBBINGEI BY CUTTINGS AND ITS EVALUATION AS AN ORNAMENTAL FOR USE IN URBAN AND SUB-URBAN AREAS

Elaeagnus ×ebbingei (Elaeagnaceae), is an evergreen shrub, with particular ornamental properties and characteristics. The plant has particularly decorative leaves, scented flowers that bloom in autumn and it is easily adapted to a broad range of temperatures and soils. In this work the seasonality of its propagation by stem cuttings with the use of rooting hormone, some anatomical features were examined with the fluorescent microscope and the possible use of the plant as ornamental in urban and sub-urban areas are discussed. Apical stem cuttings were planted in a peat/perlite mixture 1:1 v/v in trays and watered by mist after treating them with IBA rooting hormone at concentrations of 0, 3000 and 4000 ppm. Cuttings were collected in September and November 2004 and in January, April and June of 2005 in order to establish the best season for taking cuttings. The rate of success of rooting and the qualitative characteristics of the rooted cuttings (dry and fresh weight) were investigated for each sampling season. The results showed that the most suitable time for taken cuttings is autumn and summer. Cuttings taken in autumn had the highest rate of rooting (73.3±6.7%) irrespective of hormone concentration. The rooting hormone has a significant effect on rooting irrespective of season. Concentration of 3000 ppm has the highest effect on rooting. The morphological and anatomical leaf features, thick cuticle, dense mesophyll and presence of peltate trichomes, indicated that this plant is particularly suitable for use as an ornamental in urban and suburban areas as it can withstand drought and atmospheric pollutants.