The effects of cutting position and clonal variation were investigated on rooting of Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H. J. Lam. at the nursery of Moist Forest Research Station, Benin City. Single – node leafy stem cuttings were made from six coppicing trees each constituting a genetic origin from both the apical and basal region of stems of harvested shoots. Cuttings were all treated with 0.2% concentration of Indole-3- butyric acid (IBA). The experiment was a 2x6 factorial and laid out in a completely randomised design in non – mist propagators, hermetically sealed with a temperature range of 240C- 330C. Decomposed sawdust was used as the propagation medium and 360 cuttings were used in the experiment. Variables taken were root length, root numbers and rooting percentage. Clonal variation and cutting position had highly significant effect on root length (P < 0.05). Interaction (clone x cutting position) was also significant for root length development. Among the six clones investigated, C1 clone cuttings had the highest mean root length and from the apical region of the shoot. Neither of the tested factors had effect on root number and rooting percentage nor did the interaction between them (P > 0.05). The finding reveals that D. edulis is sensitive to both clonal variation and cutting position and amenable to vegetative propagation using leafy stem cuttings.

Morinda lucida Benth have been used over the years by rural communities across the tropical region for its medicinal potentials. Phytochemicals are bioactive plant constituents produced via secondary metabolism in relatively small amounts. Their presence span across several plant species of which Morida lucida is worthy of note. To ascertain the phytochemical constituents responsible for the ethno-medical properties of Morinda, a qualitative and quantitative screening of the phytochemical constituents was conducted on some sampled leaves. The result of the screening showed that the leaf of Morinda contains alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinones and steroids. The implication of these finding is that the presence of anthraquinone in Morinda leaves makes it a potential laxative; while the presence of steroid, alkaloid and tannins explains its ability to treat heart ailments, malaria and diarrhea respectively among other ailments.