Effect of propagation dates, media and auxins treatments on rooting of Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) semi-hard wood cuttings

Abstract

This experiment was carried out from 15th October, 2021 to 15th May, 2022 in the plastic house in Duhok city, Iraq. A study included the effect of three factors, the first one is two different propagation dates 15th October and 15th December, second one is three propagation media includes peat moss + perlite (1:1), sand + perlite (1:1) and peat moss + sand + perlite (1:1:1), and third one included three auxin concentrations includes (control, 3000 IBA+1500 NAA and 6000 IBA + 3000 mg. L-1 NAA) on the rooting of Cupressus macrocarpa semi-hard wood cuttings. The results analyzed by (RCBD) design and indicated that the planting of cuttings at 15th October significantly gave the best results of all studied characters (rooting percentage (51.11%) and shoots characters) as compared with those date in 15th December which gave the lowest values. As for propagation media had significant effect only on rooting characters, the best results of rooting obtained when cuttings planted in both of (sand + perlite) and (sand + peat moss + perlite) media but the media hadn’t any significant effects on shoot characters. Auxin treatment meaningfully affected on rooting ability of cuttings, high concentrations of auxins (6000 IBA+3000 NAA mg.L-1) gave the best results of rooting characters comparison with low concentration (3000 IBA+1500 NAA mg.L-1) and control (0 mg.L-1) but hadn’t any significant effects on shoots characters. Generally, the interaction among three factors showed that the planting of cutting treated with both concentrations of auxins in both of (sand + perlite) and (sand + peat moss + perlite) media at 15th October provided the best results of rooting percentage and improve most roots and shoots characters.