Özyurt G., Yücesan Z., Ak N., Oktan E., Üçler A. Ö. Ecological and Economic Importance of Studying Propagation Techniques of Common Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Jacq.

Climate change as a fact of global warming requires the development of different perspectives on the planning and implementation of sustainable forestry techniques. Increasing temperatures cause drought on a global basis. In connection with, this using drought tolerant species in afforestation work is of great importance. In recent years Crataegus L. species (hawthorn) are also involved in afforestation. One of these species, C. monogyna, is characterized by drought tolerance. Furthermore, C. monogyna is the most important non-wood forest product species of Turkey. Hawthorn is widely used in medicine (treatment of coronary heart diseases), and cosmetics industry, agriculture and animal husbandry and human nutrition. On the other hand, it is used in erosion control, afforestation, industrial energy resources and for landscaping. Economic and ecological contribution of hawthorn to the national economy is quite high. Therefore, determination of suitable generative and vegetative reproduction techniques and vast production of seedlings of hawthorn species are extremely important. The characteristics of generative and vegetative propagation of Crataegus are discussed. For generative propagation of hawthorn species, the most effective and suitable procedure is treatment of seeds in ash solution. For vegetative propagation in culture in vitro the growth induced by BA (benzyladenine) and IBA (indole butyric acid) hormones increases the rate of callus formation and rooting. The best grafting technique is that splicing.