Research article

STUDY OF ROOTING POWDER WITH IBA ON ROOT INDUCTION BEHAVIOUR OF HARDWOOD CUTTING OF CITRUS KARNA

Rupesh1, Gurpreet Singh2* and Dhinesh Kumar C1

Online First: December 07, 2022


Background: Clonal propagation is essential to propagate citrus rootstocks like C. karna. Most citrus plants are propagated by hardwood stem cutting by using exogenously applied Auxin (Indole Butyric Acid) on rooting. Auxin (Indole Butyric Acid) is typically used in liquid form. However, using auxin in liquid form has drawbacks, such as the need for always fresh auxin solutions and the possibility that cutting ends may exude cell sap when dipped in the solution. Therefore, in the present study, auxin hormone is applied in powder form by developing a new product by using talcum powder as the base material to address these issues. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the rooting abilities of hardwood cuttings of citrus karna using different IBA concentrations alone along with Zinc Sulphate and to determine the synergistic effect of Zinc Sulphate and IBA on the cutting. After 30 days of each treatment, rooting percentage, average root number, average root length, root diameter, number of sprouts, days to first rooting, days to first bud spout, root fresh weight, root dry weight, dry weight percentage were assessed. Result: The results indicate that root induction behaviour was best in citrus cuttings treated with IBA @ 0.15 % with Zinc Sulphate @ 0.50 % in powder form(T9). However, in most cases, observations were at par with IBA @ 0.10 % (powder form) in T6 and with treatment T8 (IBA 0.1% in powder form + 0.5% ZnSO4). However, if additional advantages are taken into accounts, such as long shelf life and the absence of contamination, it can be said that the new product innovation of rooting hormone in powder form is preferable to the liquid form for root induction.

Keywords

Talc base, Zinc Sulphate, clonal, stem cutting, vegetative, auxin, propagation, product innovation