Establishment, survival and growth of pomegranate cuttings with different concentrations of indole butyric acid and rooting substrates

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to optimize the concentration of growth regulator IBA and to evaluate the efficacy of growing medium for root and shoot development in stem cuttings of pomegranate cv. ‘Phule Arakta’ under arid conditions. About 15-20 cm long cuttings, 0.5-1.0 cm diameter and having three or four buds obtained from the healthy pomegranate trees planted in mid-January. Before planting, the cuttings were treated with four levels i.e. 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 ppm of IBA using quick dip technique (for 5 seconds) and planted in five rooting substrates i.e. sand, vermiculite, perlite, cocopeat and garden soil (control). The maximum rooting and survival percentages were recorded in IBA @ 2500 ppm with vermiculite substrate. Similarly, the maximum numbers of shoots and roots per cutting as well as fresh and dry weights of roots were recorded with IBA @ 2500ppm in vermiculite. In contrast, IBA @ 2500ppm in combination with sand and perlite produced the maximum root length in cuttings. These findings suggested that dipping cuttings in 2500 ppm IBA and planting in vermiculite was the most effective treatment for enhancing establishment, survival and growth of pomegranate cv. ‘Phule Arakta’ cuttings