Vegetative Regeneration Potential of Trichoscypha arborea A.Chev., 1912 (Anacardiaceae), a Key and Understudied Forest Fruit Tree Species Undergoing Decline: A Practical Alternative for Its Conservation

Abstract

Trichoscypha arborea is a forest tree species of high socio-economic value in West Africa. Although currently assessed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List, field surveys across several regions of Côte d’Ivoire reveal a significant population decline and near disappearance of the species outside protected forests. This decline is primarily due to overexploitation (destructive harvesting practices) and limited natural regeneration. This study evaluates the vegetative regeneration potential of stem cuttings, as a practical strategy to support their reintroduction into community agroforestry systems. Stem segments from multiple mother trees across six locations were pooled to assess the overall feasibility of propagation and classified into three types of cuttings (hardwood “basal lignified part”, semi-hardwood “intermediate semi-lignified part”, and softwood or herbaceous “apical green part”). These were assessed in a nursery without hormonal treatment to determine their potential for domestication, regeneration, and conservation by rural communities. Results showed budding rates of 46% for herbaceous cuttings, 34% for semi-hardwood, and 30% for hardwood. However, three months after budding, mortality rates reached 100% for herbaceous cuttings, 76.47% for semi-hardwood, and only 13.33% for hardwood. These findings highlight the relevance of vegetative propagation of T . arborea using hardwood and semi-hardwood cuttings, a simple and low-cost method to support the conservation and domestication of this increasingly rare forest species in Côte d’Ivoire. Further improvements, such as the use of enriched organic substrates, rooting hormones, or propagation under tunnel systems to prevent desiccation, should be explored to optimize this technique in community nurseries.