Plant Cuttings Research Articles

Optimising cutting method and timing for the control of Abutilon theophrasti seed production

AbstractAbutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a widespread and problematic annual weed. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different cutting methods on the viability of A. theophrasti seeds. Three cutting methods were assessed: (1) Entire plant cut and dried (EPD)—plants were cut at soil level and dried with capsules attached on the greenhouse bench or soil surface for 4 weeks; (2) capsules detached and dried (CD)—capsules were removed from plants and dried for 4 weeks; and (3) capsules detached and tested while fresh (CF)—a control treatment. Before drying, the developmental stage (stage one, dark green; stage two, light green; stage three, yellowish‐green; or stage four, black with the slightly open capsule) and age (days after flowering, DAF) of each capsule was recorded. Seed viability was measured immediately in the CF treatment and after the 4‐week drying period in the EPD and CD treatments. No seeds in the EPD and CD treatments were viable when harvested at the first developmental stage (1–8 DAF) in either experiment, but 100% of seeds in the CF treatment in the field were viable when harvested at 8 DAF. In both greenhouse and field experiments, seeds attained full viability at earlier harvest ages in CF than in EPD or CD treatments, suggesting that seeds might become viable relatively early in development but lose viability if allowed to dry. These findings could be applied to optimise late‐season mechanical control of A. theophrasti.

The role of the Pamir Botanical Garden in the enrichment of the assortments of conifers in the Western Pamirs

This article presents some results of cuttings of coniferous plants in the conditions of the Western Pamirs, on the example of the Pamir Botanical Garden, as well as enriching the range and prospects for their use. Since under natural conditions, the diversity of conifers in the Pamirs is very small and mainly species of the juniper genus grow here, in the Pamir Botanical Garden, for many years, research has been carried out to study the introduced coniferous plants and their adaptation to the conditions of this territory. In the course of the study on introduction, the optimal cutting time was determined for species of spruce, biota and others. It is shown that the spring period of grafting in comparison with the summer period is the most optimal for the conditions of the Western Pamirs. It was determined that western thuja (Thuja occidentalis) has a very good percentage of survival (60 %) compared with prickly spruce and European spruce, which are inferior to it by 15-20 %. The article also gives a brief description of conifers that have already been acclimatized in the conditions of the Western Pamirs and there is a prospect of their use for landscaping and soil protection in different parts of this territory. These include species of the genus biota, thuja, spruce and others.

Optimal plot size in forage sorghum with comparison of the methods of modified maximum curvature, linear response and plateau model and quadratic response and plateau model

The objective of this study was to compare three methods for estimating the optimal plot size to evaluate the fresh matter productivity of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) sown in rows, evaluated in three cuts. Two uniformity trials (repetitions) were carried out. In each trial, three plant cuts were performed, totaling six uniformity trials (2 trials per cut × 3 cuts). The first cut was performed at 41 days after sowing (DAS), the second at 82 DAS and the third at 133 DAS. Fresh matter productivity was evaluated in 216 basic experimental units (BEU) of 1 m × 1 m (36 BEU per trial). The BEU was formed by two rows of 1.0 m in length, spaced 0.50 m apart, totaling 1.0 m2. The optimal plot size was determined using the methods of modified maximum curvature, linear response and plateau model and quadratic response and plateau model. The optimal plot size differs between the methods and decreases in the following order: quadratic response and plateau model (9.10 m2), linear response and plateau model (7.16 m2) and modified maximum curvature (4.13 m2). The optimal plot size to evaluate the fresh matter productivity of forage sorghum, sown in rows, evaluated in three cuts, is 7.16 m2 and the experimental precision stabilizes from this size on.

Mechanical Branch Wounding Alters the BVOC Emission Patterns of Ficus Plants

Tree leaves emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in response to mechanical wounding by insect folivores. However, BVOCs are also released from leaves in response to damage to other tree organs. In this study, we hypothesized that if trees utilize BVOCs to defend against leaf herbivory, BVOCs emitted in response to leaf wounding would be different from those emitted in response to other types of mechanical damage. To test this hypothesis, we measured BVOCs emitted from the leaves of four Ficus species in response to leaf-cutting, branch-cutting, leaf-branch-cutting, and control (constitutive BVOCs). We found that leaf-cutting triggered the emission of BVOCs, but their emission patterns were species-specific, and the overall BVOC composition did not significantly differ from that of constitutive BVOCs. In contrast, branch-cutting triggered the emission of many BVOCs, some known as parasitoid attractants and herbivore deterrents. Our study suggests that plant defense mediated by BVOCs is highly species-specific and not effective for attracting herbivore enemies when unrelated disturbances such as tree falls and windstorms occur. Additionally, we recommend avoiding ex situ BVOC sampling of cut plants, as this method alters BVOC emission patterns from both intact and damaged leaves.

Improvement of Rooting Performance in Stem Cuttings of Savin Juniper (Juniperus sabina L.) as a Function of IBA Pretreatment, Substrate, and Season

Juniperus sabina is an interesting species for forest restoration and ornamental purposes. The seeds of this plant have several types of dormancies; therefore, seed propagation is difficult and time consuming. The production of cuttings can be an alternative way to produce plants more quickly. The main objective of this experiment was to determine the best propagation conditions (indole butyric acid dose, substrate, and season) for this species using stem cuttings. Rooting performance of the cuttings was evaluated based on the rooting percentage (%), root biomass, and specific root length (SRL). In addition, we examined the internal composition (auxin and peroxidase content) in treated stem cuttings. Cuttings were pretreated with five doses of indole butyric acid (IBA; 0 (control), 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 ppm) and were rooted in four substrates (perlite, perlite-cocopeat, pumice, and mixed substrate) during the four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and autumn). The best treatments, with more than 60% rooting, were applied in spring, and IBA at 1000 ppm in perlite–cocopeat substrate obtained 62% rooting. The highest rooting percentage correlated with the highest root biomass production and the lowest SRL. IBA pretreatment decreased the concentration of peroxidase in spring (coinciding with maximum rooting), representing an indicator of rooting performance. Based on these results, we recommend a new protocol for Juniperus sabina production: (i) prepare cuttings in spring, (ii) treat cutting bases with 1000 ppm IBA, and (iii) plant cuttings in a substrate of perlite–cocopeat (1:1).

Botanical Scans as a Learning Aid in Plant Identification Courses

High-resolution scans of plant cuttings were made for a plant identification course to create additional study resources. Stems, flowers, leaves, and other parts with identifiable features were cut and placed on a high-quality flatbed scanner. A framework suspended a black background cloth above the cuttings to create a dark scanning environment, and it was placed far enough away from the scanner glass so as not to appear in the scanned image. Botanical scans can be shared, manipulated, composed, and otherwise provided to students for study materials. Scans are complementary to other common study aids such as pressed herbarium samples or photography.

EVALUATION OF XANTHOMONAS AXONOPODIS PV. MANIHOTIS POPULATION IN INFECTED STEMS OF CASSAVA VARIETIES AND THE IMPACT ON NEW SPROUTS

A prerequisite for a healthy cassava plantation is the use of non-infected planting material. Therefore, the distribution of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis in cassava stems of four genotypes was determined with the aim to develop recommendations for the selection of healthy stem material for planting to avoid cassava bacterial blight. X. axonopodis pv. manihotis was detected in stems of the susceptible varieties Ben86052 and Fetonegbodji, in a discontinuous colonization pattern and not restricted to any part of the stem, with higher numbers in the upper parts of the stem (107 cfu/g for Ben86052 and 106 cfu/g for Fetonegbodji), than in the middle and basal parts (103 to 104 cfu/g). Although 90-100% and 50-90% of cuttings of varieties Ben86052 and Fetonegbodji, respectively, harbored the pathogen, only 40-50% and 20-40%, respectively, of emerging sprouts were infected. From most of the cuttings in which the bacterium was not detected, healthy sprouts emerged. No bacterial blight symptoms occurred on the known relatively resistant genotypes TMS30572 and Ggazekoute in the field, and X. axonopodis pv. manihotis was not found in any part of the plants, nor did any of the new sprouts from the planted cuttings show disease symptoms. Thus, symptomless plants of the two genotypes can be considered free of bacteria and therefore can be recommended to farmers as suitable planting material to reduce disease incidence.

Effect of Explant Origin and Medium Plant Growth Regulators on In Vitro Shoot Proliferation and Rooting of Salvia tomentosa, a Native Sage of the Northeastern Mediterranean Basin

Salvia tomentosa is a perennial sage of the maquis vegetation, strongly aromatic, with medicinal and ornamental value. Aiming to facilitate the promotion of the species in the floriculture sector, its micropropagation was studied in terms of the effect of explant origin and medium plant growth regulators on in vitro cultures establishment, shoot proliferation and rooting. Shoot tip or single node explants excised from either in vitro grown seedlings or greenhouse plants grown from cuttings of mature plants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA) at concentrations 0.0–3.2 mg L−1 in combination with 0.0, 0.01 and 0.1 mg L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Infections were the biggest problem for establishing cultures from greenhouse plants, while explants from in vitro seedlings showed hyperhydricity, especially the nodal ones. In the multiplication stage, high BA concentrations reduced explant response to produce shoots as well as the length of shoots produced, and although they increased shoot number per responding explant, a large number of shoots were hyperhydrated especially in explants of seedling origin. In general, the highest multiplication indexes, relevant to normal shoots, were given by the hormone-free medium or one with low BA concentration, and by shoot tip explants originated from greenhouse adult plants. The highest rooting rates (70–78%) were achieved either at full or half strength hormone-free or with 0.1 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) medium. Increasing IBA resulted in an increase in root number, but a decrease in rooting rate and root length. Ex vitro acclimatization was highly successful (92–96%) in peat-perlite (1:1 v/v) substrate. The micropropagation protocol developed will contribute to the promotion of S. tomentosa in the floriculture and pharmaceutical industry and will be a tool for breeding programs targeting high value products.

Endosymbionts in cranberry: Diversity, effect on plant growth, and pathogen biocontrol

Societal impact statementThis investigation addresses the diversity of microbial endosymbionts in cranberry, which are among the least understood and ill‐defined ericoid symbionts. There is excellent potential for Ericaceous plants, such as cranberry and blueberry, to be farmed more sustainably once the properties and functioning of their associated microbiomes are known in more detail. Here, we demonstrate that some bacterial and fungal endosymbionts of cranberry stimulate plant growth and suppress fungal pathogens. They have the potential for field applications as a first step toward sustainable cranberry farming.Summary Virtually, all vascular plants harbor bacterial and fungal endosymbionts, which colonize predominantly but not exclusively, roots. Most common among fungal partners are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; Glomeromycotina) that live within plant roots and provide soil nutrients to the plant while receiving from the plant organic carbon sources. Ericaceae are an exception as they do not host AMF but rather the taxonomically ill‐defined “ericoid mycorrhizal fungi,” including select ascomycete and basidiomycete species. Because the diversity of endosymbionts in Ericaceae is poorly investigated, we set out to explore the microbiome of Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton (cranberry). Here, we report the isolation and ribotyping of ~180 distinct bacterial and fungal endophytes collected from roots, stems, and leaves of cranberry plants cultivated in Quebec, Canada. Plant growth promotion was assessed after inoculating plant cuttings with these microbes, whereas pathogen suppression was tested on agar plates by growth confrontation. We show that the cranberry microbiome varies substantially between tissues, cultivars, and across fields of the same farm. Among the isolates, 16 bacterial and 8 fungal strains exhibit biofertilization or biocontrol properties with potential application in sustainable cranberry farming. We propose to move towards a more rigorous, molecular‐based definition of ericoid mycorrhiza, accounting for their broad evolutionary and morphological diversity.

Plant poisoning in goats

As herbivores goats are at risk of plant poisoning. Poisoning may occur if goats are accidentally fed plant cuttings or through contamination of feed, but as goats are agile and inquisitive they can escape from their enclosure and encounter poisonous plants in gardens or woodland. They may also eat plants they would normally avoid if other forage is unavailable. Poisoning with plants containing grayanotoxins (Pieris and Rhododendron species) or cyanogenic glycosides (e.g cherry laurel, Prunus laurocerasus) is very common in goats. Other plants that have caused poisoning in goats include yew (Taxus species), oak (Quercus species), hemlock (Conium maculatum), leylandii (× Hesperotropsis leylandii), box (Buxus sempervirens) and plants containing cardiac glycosides such as oleander (Nerium oleander) or pyrrolizidine alkaloids such as ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris). Sudden death is frequently the first sign of plant toxicosis in livestock. Management of plant poisoning in goats is supportive including removal from exposure, and providing analgesia, rehydration and potentially a rumenotomy for plant exposure in valuable animals.

Stek Tumbuhan Kebiul (Caesalpinia sp.) Berbantuan Air Kelapa sebagai Hormon Pertumbuhan Alami

Caesalpinia sp. is a popular traditional medicinal plant in Bengkulu, but people have not cultivated it and still harvest it from nature. Efforts towards cultivation must begin before these plants are rare because in nature will run out. In this study measure the growth of Kebiul plant cuttings with the help of natural hormones from 3 variants of coconut water consist of: young, medium and old coconut water, which will be compared with synthetic growth regulators (rootone-F) and controls (without treatment). The study was carried out for six weeks with twelve observations, measurements were made in the afternoon, with the parameters of observing the shoots (the growth number, growth time, growth rate), shoots number and leaves number.The results showed that the percentage of the number of seedlings growing was (P3:41.67%; P1:33.33%; P2:25%; P4: 16.67%; P5: 8.33%), Growing time (days) namely (P5: 23; P1: 23.25; P3: 23.29; P2: 24.25; P4: 40.5), Growth rate (P2: 0.81; P3: 0.59; P5: 0.18; P1: 0.12; P4: 0.04 ), Average number of shoots (P3: 1.4; P2: 1.3; P1: 1; P4: 1; P5: 1), and Average number of leaves (P2: 2.67; P3: 1, 92; P1:0; P4:0; P5:0).The use of coconut water on Kebiul plant cuttings, with the best results sequentially P3 (young coconut water), P2 (medium coconut water), and P1 (old coconut water).

Phytoextraction of copper and lead from spiked soil using Acalypha wilkesiana (Copper leaf) and Polyscias fruticosa (Aralia)

Soil contaminated with heavy metals industrially or anthropogenically is a major global concern. This study aimed at investigating the potential of Acalypha wilkesiana and Polyscias fruticosa plants to remove copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) from soil spiked with solutions of Cu and Pb. Information on the ability of both plants to uptake and accumulate Cu and Pb from spiked soil is insufficient. Plant cuttings were grown in a 2 kg soil spiked with heavy metals and kept at the greenhouse for the period of 240 days. Root, stem and leaf of the plants were analyzed for Cu and Pb using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Cu accumulation (2.58 -542.66 mg/kg) was appreciably higher than Pb accumulation (26.24 - 46.44 mg/kg) in A. wilkesiana, while Cu accumulation ranged 4.54 - 384.19 mg/kg was found to be lower than the Pb accumulation ranged 1.22-759.48 mg/kg in P. fruticosa. The maximum accumulation of Cu and Pb in the shoot were found to be 52.50 and 82.93 mg/kg in A. wilkesiana, while 38.26 and 123.98 mg/kg in P. fruticosa. Accumulation of Cu and Pb by both plants were correlated using the indices bioaccumulation, transfer factor and translocation index. The result is encouraging and suggests that both plants could be applied for phytoextraction of Cu and Pb from heavy metal spiked soil.

Seaweed Extracts as Substitutes of Synthetic Hormones for Rooting Promotion in Rose Cuttings

In the horticultural sector, the achievement of an efficient and eco-friendly sustainable production of plants is nowadays challenging. Indeed, in plant vegetative propagation of woody ornamentals, the substitution of chemical products used to promote rooting of cuttings with natural extracts would be a desirable goal. Thus, the aim of this work was to test the replacement of synthetic phytoregulators, such as auxins and brassinosteroids, with biostimulants, such as seaweed extracts, for the rooting promotion of rose cuttings. The rooting rate and biometric parameters of control cuttings treated with distilled water were compared with those of cuttings treated with synthetic hormones, i.e., auxins or 22(S),23(S)-homobrassinolide, or two commercial products based on low temperature seaweed extracts, i.e., Kelpak® and Phylgreen. Two scented hybrid tea rose cultivars were used to assess possible genotype-dependent effects, i.e., ‘Michelangelo®’ and ‘Cosmos®’. Auxins confirmed their role in root growth enhancement in ornamental plant cuttings. Like these phytoregulators, Kelpak® improved the survival rate and root biometric parameters of both rose cuttings, highlighting its suitability for the replacement of synthetic products used for rooting promotion in rose propagation. Brassinosteroids showed a species-dependent effect, increasing the root biomass in ‘Cosmos®’ while it resulted as distilled water in ‘Michelangelo®’. Phylgreen did not improve the rooting of both rose cuttings, highlighting the necessity of evaluating the applicability and methodology for this product before its use. In conclusions, our results highlighted the possibility to replace chemical products in rose cutting production.

Research on the one-step regeneration of sugarcane in KK3 variety (Saccharum officinarum L.) in vitro

The research has successfully created the formula for direct regeneration medium of sugarcane variety KK3. In detail, the most suitable medium for direct regeneration from young leaf rolls of sugarcane variety KK3 was RE2 (MS + 5 mg/l α-NAA + 1 mg/l Kinetin), the regeneration rate was 25.27%, the number of shoots formed/1.0 g of young leaf rolls reached 11.56 shoots. The study showed that the position of the young leaf rolls cuttings suitable for direct regeneration was the cuttings located from 2-6 cm away from the growth apex. The shoot regeneration rate reached 25.40%, the regenerating samples were 25.40%, good yield, and a high rate of multiple shoot formation. When using plant cuttings with a thickness of 1 cm, the highest regeneration rate was 25.58%, and the ability to form multiple shoots was high. Pre-cultivation time had a positive effect on the ability to regenerate shoots directly from young leaf coils of sugarcane variety KK3. When conducting pre-cultivation in four days will help increase the regeneration ability of the sugarcane variety, reaching 47.49%. MS medium + 5 mg/l α-NAA + 1 mg/l Kinetin supplemented with 30% coconut water showed the highest regeneration ability, reaching 52.95%, number of shoots reaching 52.33 shoots/1 g of young leaf rolls.

Clonal propagation of Gmelina arborea Roxb grown in southeastern Mexico

Objective: To evaluate the clonal behavior of Gmelina arborea Roxb from mother plant cuttings in southeastern Mexico. Design/Methodology/Approach: A completely random design of three treatments with four repetitions was established; the treatments were concentrations of IBA (4000, 6000 and 3000 ppm). The following were evaluated: percentage of rooting, days until root formation, type of cutting, number of roots, length of roots and absorbent roots. Analysis of variance and Tukey’s test were performed with Statistix 9.0. Results: In the analysis of variance (ANOVA), significant factors were observed (callus and number of roots), and also, a fluctuation was observed in the percentage of rooting from 84% to 92%. Regarding the number of roots and cm of roots, there were significant differences in the presence of number of roots of the 6000 ppm treatment. Conclusions: The concentration of IBA in the rooting generates good results in different concentrations, depending on the cutting implemented, the factors callus and number of roots; significant records were obtained between treatments, favoring the acceleration of presence of roots.

Propagation by stem cutting of Euphorbia balsamifera (Aiton), a galactogenic plant in Benin

Objectives: Cutting is a method of asexual vegetative plant propagation that allows new plants from a plant cuttings cut from the mother plant. The present study aims to test this plant reproduction method using cuttings of the stem of Euphorbia balsamifera for the domestication of the species as it induces milk production in cows. Methodology and results: The experiment was carried out on the experimental site of the botanical garden of University of Abomey-Calavi in southern Benin. The Euphorbia balsamifera’s stem of 15 and 25 cm of length were planted in two different substrates: soil alone and mixture of soil + compost for rooting. The mixture of soil + compost was used in a ratio of 3/4 of soil and 1/4 of compost. The experimental design used was a split plot with four replications. The main factor was the stem length and sub factors were type of substrate. The results revealed that the substrate and stem cuttings length of plant material induced significant (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001 respectively) effect on the proportion (85%) of stem cuttings that were recovered. The stem cuttings with the length 25 cm planted in the soil alone reduced the duration of stem cuttings recovered (7.00±0.00 days). Conclusion and application of findings: Stem cuttings (length 25 cm) transplanted in soil alone was the efficient way of regeneration of Euphorbia balsamifera. This finding is suggested to the agro-pastoralists to enhance milk production of cows. This study is the first step in the process of domestication of the species. However, propagation by stem of this galactogenic plant species could also be tested during different seasons of the year in order to determine the best plantation period in the field in a context of in situ and ex situ conservation. Keywords: Budburst, cuttings, domestication, lactogenic plant, biodiversity conservation.

PENGARUH NOMOR RUAS TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN STEK CABE JAWA (Piper retrofractum Vahl.)

Javanese chili (Piper retrofractum Vahl.) is a potential traditional medicine ingredient for Indonesian products which is used as an export commodity to various countries. The increasing demand for Javanese chili must be balanced with increased production through vegetative propagation of cuttings. The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of survival, the effect of giving Rootone-F growth regulators, and the effect of a different number of cuttings source material on each growth parameter of Javanese chili cuttings. The research design used was a completely randomized design which consisted of 8 groups of cuttings source segments and the administration of a growth regulator Rootone-F in the form of a paste. The results showed that the average percentage of live cuttings, shoot cuttings, and rooted cuttings in all groups of cuttings of Javanese chili plants were classified as successful at 80-85%. Parameters that showed significant differences between treatments were only on the number of roots. The combination of the number of cuttings source segments from the seventh (R7) and eighth (R8) segments with the addition of a growth regulator Rootone-F in the form of a paste showed the highest growth for each parameter compared to the other segment numbers.

Deep Learning-Based Occlusion Handling of Overlapped Plants for Robotic Grasping

Instance segmentation of overlapping plants to detect their grasps for possible robotic grasping presents a challenging task due to the need to address the problem of occlusion. We addressed the problem of occlusion using a powerful convolutional neural network for segmenting objects with complex forms and occlusions. The network was trained with a novel dataset named the “occluded plants” dataset, containing real and synthetic images of plant cuttings on flat surfaces with differing degrees of occlusion. The synthetic images were created using the novel framework for synthesizing 2D images by using all plant cutting instances of available real images. In addition to the method for occlusion handling for overlapped plants, we present a novel method for determining the grasps of segmented plant cuttings that is based on conventional image processing. The result of the employed instance segmentation network on our plant dataset shows that it can accurately segment the overlapped plants, and it has a robust performance for different levels of occlusions. The presented plants’ grasp detection method achieved 94% on the rectangle metric which had an angular deviation of 30 degrees and an IoU of 0.50. The achieved results show the viability of our approach on plant species with an irregular shape and provide confidence that the presented method can provide a basis for various applications in the food and agricultural industries.

The Effect of Natural PGR Combination on The Growth of Fig (Ficus carica L.) Plant Cuttings

Fig is shrub with short stems, creeping, not many trunks and woody which have cambium tissue due to thickening between the xylem and phloem, can grow and bear fruit in the hot sun or in the desert. Fig plant is a plant that has many benefits. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of natural Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) (mature coconut water, young coconut water and shallot extract) and obtain the best concentration of PGR for Fig plant cuttings. The study was carried out by field trial methods arranged in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with a single factor trial design. The treatments tested were the addition of PGR from natural ingredients, namely: mature coconut water 20% and 30%, young coconut water 20% and 30%, red shallot extract 60% and 70% and commercial PGR (Root-Up™™). Each treatment was repeated 3 times. The results of this search showed that all-natural PGR tested, namely from young coconut water concentrations of 20% and 30%, mature coconut concentrations of 20% and 30% and shallots concentrations of 60% and 70% can be used to increase the growth of Fig plant cuttings. All natural PGRs tested, namely young coconut water with a concentration of 20% and 30%, mature coconut with a concentration of 20% and 30% and shallots with a concentration of 60% and 70% can be used to increase the growth of fig plant cuttings.

Restoration of tropical montane cloud forest in bracken dominated pastures: The role of nurse shrubs

Bracken (Pteridum arachnoideum) is an invasive fern species that slows or inhibits forest regeneration over vast areas worldwide, affecting biodiversity, ecosystem functions and productivity. To overcome arrested succession, effective restoration interventions are necessary. We examined the effects of planting pioneer shrubs on establishment success in mid- to late-successional tree species transplants, and their combined effects on bracken dominance in abandoned pastures of former cloud forest in Mexico. We hypothesised that the rapid development of nurse shrubs will reduce bracken growth and facilitate mid- to late-successional tree species establishment. We analysed the effects of planting cuttings of the shrubs Tithonia diversifolia and Sambucus nigra on bracken and on the seedling performance of Juglans pyriformis, Quercus insignis, Meliosma alba and Tapirira mexicana, in three sites under four treatments: (1) trees without shrubs, (2) trees with T. diversifolia, (3) trees with S. nigra, and (4) trees with both T. diversifolia and S. nigra. Increased transplant performance was expected under mixed shrub species, compared to single shrub species plantings, due to complementarity in the use of resources (niche separation). After two years, plantings with shrubs and trees reduced bracken cover by >60% and bracken live rhizome biomass by >50%. Shrubs effects were species-specific, reflecting a complex combination of facilitation and competition mechanisms. In comparison to the trees without shrubs, survival of M. alba and Q. insignis significantly increased with T. diversifolia, T. mexicana survival decreased with S. nigra and J. piriformis survival decreased with T. diversifolia and the mixture. The results support the use of cuttings of T. diversifolia or S. nigra separately, rather than in combination, and the inclusion of mid- to late-successional trees, to assist recovery of degraded cloud forest areas where succession has been stalled by bracken. An integrated management approach that considers synergistic factors causing plant mortality in bracken sites needs to be addressed.