Impact of Selected Plant Growth Regulators on Rooting Response of Stem Cuttings of Psidium guajava L.

Abstract

Guava can be propagated vegetatively through layering, cutting and grafting, in addition to seeds. Among the propagation techniques, cuttings have gained popularity because they produce results in a shorted span of time. Rooting is an essential step in the propagation of guava through cuttings. Nowadays, the most popular technique for growing cuttings in a misty environment is the use of plant growth regulators, especially auxins such as Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) that promote root growth. The present study was undertaken to assess the influence of plant growth regulators on the rooting of diverse stem cuttings from guava cv. Arka Kiran under mist chamber conditions at the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Two plant growth regulators, IBA and NAA were employed at various concentrations. These regulators were applied to single-node cuttings with one leaf, double node cuttings with two leaves, and herbaceous cuttings. The highest rooting percentage (55.10%), the duration for bud sprouting (21.13 days), and number of leaves (4.83) were observed in single-node cuttings treated with IBA at a concentration of 3000 ppm concentration. Single-node cuttings treated with IBA at 3000 ppm exhibited superior rooting and sprouting performance compared to Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA). Among the three stem cuttings, single-node cuttings with one leaf proved to be the most effective for rapid multiplication.