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ROOTING OF PEACH HARDWOOD CUTTINGS IN POLYETHYLENE BAGS
Using this method, whereby the treated cuttings are kept in the darkness at 20°C, rooting is easily obtained but establishment never.
It has been noticed, at first, that the cuttings diplayed marked signs of dehydratation and bud drop, the latter being determined by the length of stay of the cuttings inside the bags in the presence of ethylene and not by the concentration range of IBA from 0 to 4000 ppm.
Ethylene gas is formed both as a reaction to the hormone treatment and following meristematic activities.
The bags used do not produce ethylene and allow its exit, for this reason great quantities of gas cannot be traced in them but, probably, the amount is sufficient to contribute to bud drop as the cuttings remain in the bags for a long time.
By placing a substrate and water in the bags rooting strongly improved and ethylene content diminished, and by reducing the period of stay to a minimum of 15 days cuttings with no visible roots, able to overcome establishment phase (57.9%), were obtained.
If this period was prolonged to 30 days the cuttings rooted well, but established poorly.
It can be stated that by this method it is possible to obtain well established plants.