Effect of auxins (IBA and NAA) and season on rooting of juvenile and mature hardwood cuttings of Robinia pseudoacacia and Grewia optiva

• Published in: New forests 2002-03, Vol.23 (2), p.143-157
• Main Authors: SWAMY, S. L, PURI, S, SINGH, A. K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial regeneration. Forest nurseries. Planting; Biological and medical sciences; Cuttings; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Leaves; Lumber; Mist; Monsoons; Relative humidity; Roots; Seasons; Spring; Statistical analysis; Studies; Vegetative propagation. Micropropagation; Wind
• ISSN: 0169-4286; 1573-5095
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1015653131706

Juvenile (2 year old trees) and mature hardwood (15 year old trees) cuttings of Robinia pseudoacacia and Grewia optiva were tested for their capacity to form roots. Cuttings were prepared in spring, monsoon and winter seasons and treated with different concentrations (250, 500 and 750 mg/l) of IBA and NAA. These were planted in a mist chamber maintained at 25±1°C with relative humidity >70%. Juvenile cuttings of both species rooted significantly better than mature hardwood cuttings in all three seasons, and the age effect was more pronounced in auxin treated cuttings. The highest rooting in juvenile (83.3%) and mature (66.6%) cuttings was observed with the NAA (500 mg/l) treatment in R. pseudoacacia during the spring season. In G. optiva, IBA (250 mg/l) in the monsoon season was most effective and yielding a maximum of 80% and 70% rooting in juvenile and mature cuttings, respectively. Auxin treatments also significantly enhanced the number of roots, root length, leaf number and leaf area. Statistical analysis of data revealed that interactions between age, season and treatments were significant at P