Amri, Ezekiel2019-07-202020-01-072019-07-202020-01-072002Amri, E. (2002) Propagation studies of economically important plants: dalbergia melanoxylon, Swantzia Madagascariensis (Papilionaceae) and prunus Africana (Rosacea), Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx)http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1398Available in print formDalbergia melanoxylon and Swartzia madagascariensis are in danger of commercial extinction due to over exploitation. Few efforts have been reported on enhancing propagation of these threatened plants. This research was an effort to evaluate easy, mass propagation techniques through seeds and rooting of stem cuttings for conservation use. Seed germination experiments for Dalbergia melanoxylon and Swartzia madagascariensis were conducted under laboratory conditions. Both species germinated best at temperature between 25°C and 30°C. Seeds were treated with boiling water for 1 min, 5 min, 10 min and 15 minutes. The best germination results (85%) were obtained from seeds of Swartzia madcrgascariensis immersed in boiling water for 5 and 10 minutes. Mechanical scarification, dry heat scarification at 80°C for 30 minutes, 100°C for 15 minutes and sulphuric acid treatment for 10 minutes also enhanced germination from 56% up to 78% in Swartzia madagascariensis. Less favourable results were obtained for Dalbergia melanoxylon for all scarfication treatments. Seed stratification for two weeks significantly increased germination in Dalbergia melanoxylon, Stratification treatment was completely ineffective in Swartzia madagascariensis. Root initiation on stem cuttings by exogenous applications of growth hormones (IBA, NAA) was studied. IBA at 300 ppm yielded higher rooting percentage for D. melanoxylon and S. madagascariensis. For Prunus africana IBA 500 ppm was effective in increasing rooting percentage and the number of roots per cutting. Seasonal rooting of stem cuttings was significantly higher in dry season than in rainy season for D. melanoxylon and S. madagascariensis. Long stem cuttings (20 cm) produced significantly more roots compared to the short stem cuttings (10 cm) in all three species. These results have significant implications for conservation of these threatened plants.enBotanySeedlingsDalbergiaBlackwoodMedicinal plantsLecistemaceaeThesis