Dataset on effect of biostimulants on growth and rooting of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cuttings: from morphological and gene regulation approach

Abstract

Actinidia chinensis Planch. and A. deliciosa (A. Chev.) C.F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson are the botanical names for the two main closely related kiwifruit species that are cultivated worldwide [1]. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nation, kiwifruit is produced on 268,788 hectares of land worldwide, yielding 4,348,011 metric tonnes of fruit per year. China is the world's top producer, followed by Italy, New Zealand, Chile, and Greece, with a cumulative valuation of 2,907,580 thousand US dollars for export (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC). Several research using nutrient medium and other inorganic treatments on softwood cuttings for micro-propagation techniques have shown promising outcomes [2,3]. Several agricultural and horticultural crops have demonstrated significantly improved crop growth, quality, and reproduction when treated with seaweed extracts [4]. It is possible to utilise seaweed extracts to encourage cuttings from perennial fruit species, such as kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa), to root and flourish. Absence of a growth regulator permitted by organic methods is one of the main obstacles in kiwifruit production. Hardwood cuttings are the most popular technique of clonally reproducing kiwifruit, and the cuttings' ability to root depends on the application of synthetic auxins, which is not allowed in organic agriculture. Therefore, alternative biostimulants have been used to promote the rooting of kiwifruit cuttings in this study. For six hours, the cuttings in this investigation were submerged in base dipping solutions containing 1, 5, 10, and 50 % of G Sap (Gracilaria edulis), K Sap (Kappaphycus alvarezii), AN (Ascophyllum nodosum), EM (Ecklonia maxima), HA (Humic acid), and control (water). After that, for a period of six months, the treatments of G Sap, K Sap, AN, EM, HA, and control were applied (at the rate of 50 ml of solutions) to the potted cuttings at intervals of fifteen days. The dataset provided the data of the rooting percent in all the kiwifruit cultivars, namely ‘Monty’, ‘Abott’, ‘Hayward’, ‘Allison’ and ‘Bruno’ (P ≤ 0.01), shoot and root growth parameters including leaf number per cutting, number of roots per cutting, number of branches, plant height, shoot diameter, root length, root diameter and root weight with the application of seaweed extracts. Also data of pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total carotenoids), metabolites (total carbohydrates and soluble phenols) and electrolyte leakage were collected after the treatments. Data of four root promoting candidate genes (GH3-3, LBD16, LBD29 and LRP1) were also described which indicated the influence of the biostimulants on the cuttings. The application of seaweed extracts resulted in a positive increase in all shoot and root growth parameters, including the number of leaves per cutting, the number of roots per cutting, the number of branches, plant height, shoot diameter, root length, root diameter, and root weight (P ≤ 0.05). In comparison to the control cuttings, the seaweed extract-treated cuttings showed significantly greater levels of pigments (such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total carotenoids), metabolites (such as total carbohydrates and soluble phenols), and reduced electrolyte leakage. Various treatments (1, 5 and 10% solutions of G Sap, K Sap, AN, EM, HA and control) gave positive impact on nutrient parameters of kiwifruit cultivar ‘Hayward’. Moreover, the relative positive expressions of root inducing genes (GH3-3, LBD16, LBD29 and LRP1) was observed in leaves and roots of cultivar ‘Hayward’ by qRT-PCR after treatment with G Sap, K Sap, AN, EM, HA @ 10 % and control. Thus, it can be said that seaweed extract and humic acid are good substitutes for synthetic hormones in encouraging kiwifruit cuttings to root and flourish.