Articles
The effect of rooting enhancers and growth media on the development and early growth of pomegranate (Punica granatum L. ‘Wonderful’) stem cuttings
Article number
1425_12
Pages
87 – 92
Language
English
Abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of rooting hormones and growth media on the development and early growth of pomegranate stem cuttings.
This study with growth media (compost; sand; sand:compost mix), size of the stem cutting (diameter × length = 1 × 25 or 2.5 × 40 cm2), and rooting hormone (commercial auxins rooting hormone; raw aloe extracts) as treatments was laid out in a 3×2×2 pot experiment fitted in a randomized complete block design with three replications.
The cuttings were irrigated to field capacity twice a week for the first 60 days and no irrigation was applied for the subsequent 60 days to simulate the commercial tree nursery conditions.
The rate of adventitious bud opening was fastest on the cuttings treated with the auxin and planted in the sand.
A significant difference (p<0.05) in percentage of open buds at 90 days after planting was observed with big cuttings treated with the auxin and planted in the compost having the highest of 72%. The highest (62%) bud opening on the aloe extracts treatment was observed on the small cuttings planted in the sand:compost mix.
The lengths of branches on small cuttings (78.5 cm) treated with auxin and planted on compost was significantly longer than all other treatments.
The longest branch (33.5 cm) on aloe extracts was on small cuttings planted in the compost.
The number of leaves (124) on big cuttings treated with auxin and planted in the compost was more than other treatments.
The aloe extract was more effective if the size of the stem cutting was small and the compost or the sand:compost mix was used as the rooting media.
This finding is vital in the propagation of pomegranate saplings since it reduces the costs that may incur if commercial rooting hormones and rooting media are utilized.
This study with growth media (compost; sand; sand:compost mix), size of the stem cutting (diameter × length = 1 × 25 or 2.5 × 40 cm2), and rooting hormone (commercial auxins rooting hormone; raw aloe extracts) as treatments was laid out in a 3×2×2 pot experiment fitted in a randomized complete block design with three replications.
The cuttings were irrigated to field capacity twice a week for the first 60 days and no irrigation was applied for the subsequent 60 days to simulate the commercial tree nursery conditions.
The rate of adventitious bud opening was fastest on the cuttings treated with the auxin and planted in the sand.
A significant difference (p<0.05) in percentage of open buds at 90 days after planting was observed with big cuttings treated with the auxin and planted in the compost having the highest of 72%. The highest (62%) bud opening on the aloe extracts treatment was observed on the small cuttings planted in the sand:compost mix.
The lengths of branches on small cuttings (78.5 cm) treated with auxin and planted on compost was significantly longer than all other treatments.
The longest branch (33.5 cm) on aloe extracts was on small cuttings planted in the compost.
The number of leaves (124) on big cuttings treated with auxin and planted in the compost was more than other treatments.
The aloe extract was more effective if the size of the stem cutting was small and the compost or the sand:compost mix was used as the rooting media.
This finding is vital in the propagation of pomegranate saplings since it reduces the costs that may incur if commercial rooting hormones and rooting media are utilized.
Authors
K. Ncama, N.J. Sithole, A.O. Aremu, S. Shezi
Keywords
protected cultivation, sustainable production, cuttings agronomy, vegetative propagation
Groups involved
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Working Group Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard Management
- Working Group Modelling Plant Growth, Environmental Control, Greenhouse Environment
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
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