Higher stock plant nitrogen and phosphorus levels favor rooting on mini cuttings of tea tree

The impact of N and P nutrition of stock plants of tea trees (Melaleuca alternifolia) on rooting and survival of cuttings was investigated in order to optimize adventitious rooting and growth of scion cuttings used for clonal propagation. High rates of 300 kg N ha(-1) and 100 kg P ha(-1) led to higher rooting, shoot elongation, and survival of the cuttings than low rates of 25 kg N ha(-1) and 5 kg P ha(-1), and are thus recommended for tea tree clonal propagation.