Abstract: 【Objective】In southern China, Manglietia conifera Dandy trees flower normally; however, seed production is extremely low. Even if a small number of seeds can be obtained, the seeds are deformed and the quality of seedlings is poor. These conditions limit the cultivation and utilization of this species. Cutting propagation is an effective method for rapid propagation of many tree species. However, this propagation technique has not previously been examined for M. conifera in China. This research aimed to determine suitable growing medium and appropriate root hormone type, concentration, and treatment time through the utilization of different substrates and hormones to treat softwood cuttings. 【Method】The middle and upper plant segments, approximately 8-10 cm in length, from one-year-old branches were used as cutting materials. Each cutting had the terminal bud removed and consisted of three upper leaves with a quarter area of each leaf being retained. In order to study the influence of different substrates, the cuttings were treated with ABT-1 of 1 000 mg/L rooting solution for 10 s and planted in ten different substrates including peat, vermiculite, perlite, yellow soil, river sand and mixtures by volume of 1:1 perlite and vermiculite, 1:1 perlite and peat, 3:1 perlite and peat, 1:1 peat and vermiculite, and 3:1 peat and vermiculite. For the purpose of studying the effect of different types and concentrations of hormones with treatment time, the experiment was conducted using an orthogonal design L₉ (3³), and the cuttings were treated with either ABT-1, IBA, or IAA solutions at three concentration gradients(500, 1 000 and 1 500 mg/L)for 10 s, 1 min or 30 min, and inserted into substrate of 3:1 peat and vermiculite by volume. Observations were made on the formation of callus tissue and emergence of roots. Four months after the treatments, cutting seedlings were transplanted into pots. Rooting rate, number of roots, mean root length, and the longest root length were counted and calculated. The effect of rooting was comprehensively evaluated by the root effect index. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0, and Duncan's Multiple Range Test was used to determine significant differences between treatment means.【Result】The rooting process of cuttings could be divided into four stages as follows: ① 0-15 d, cut wounds were healed and callus tissue formed; ② ≥15-40 d, callus tissue gradually increased; ③ ≥40-60 d, adventitious roots originated from the bark and also callus tissue; ④ following 60 d, a great deal of adventitious roots were generated. Roots were mainly induced from the bark but could also develop from callus tissues. A medium mixture of 3:1 peat and vermiculite by rolume was the optimal substrate with 47.92% rooting rate, average root length of 5.20 cm, mean number of roots 8.03, and the root effect index 1.310. The orthogonal test showed that the primary and secondary sequence of factors was treatment time, type of hormone, and concentration of hormone. The most effective hormone treatment for rooting was 1 000 mg/L IBA with treatment time of 10 s. The average length of roots was 5.53 cm, the number of roots was 5.6, the rooting rate of cuttings was 51.07% and the root effect index was 0.972.【Conclusion】This study demonstrated that M. conifera can be propagated by rooting of cuttings taken from one-year-old branches. Roots were mainly induced from the bark but also from callus tissues, and compound substrates were more effective than individual substrates. Further research should be carried out to better understand the technical aspects of cutting propagation for mass production of M. conifera seedlings.