Abstract
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is commercially propagated through offshoots. Along with this rooted offshoot the tree also produces aerial offshoots, which are rootless and die after plantation. In this study attempts have been made to evaluate the effect of auxins on the root initiation of the aerial offshoots of date palm cv. Hillawi. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of IAA (500 ppm), NAA (500 ppm), alone and in combination on root initiation in aerial offshoots of date palm cv. Hillawi. The auxins were applied to the aerial shoots by injection method. The experiment was laid out according to Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments (Control, 500pmm IAA, 500ppm NAA and 500ppm IAA+NAA) and each treatment was replicated thrice. Injection method was used to apply the hormones and after the application of auxins the base of each offshoot was wrapped carefully with gunny bags having pinewood shaving as rooting media. After 40 days of supplication, offshoots were detached, and parameters were collected. Data indicated that NAA @ 500ppm gave highest rooting percentage (24.5%), total number of roots per offshoot (82.33) and total weight of roots per offshoots (607.4g) as compared to other treatments. Similarly, a greater number of smaller roots (dia<0.5cm) was also achieved in offshoots treated with 500ppm NAA. Hence, it may be concluded that root initiation was remarkable in NAA alone and in combination with IAA at 500ppm concentration in comparison to other treatments.
Highlights
Data palm is one of the very old tropical and sub-tropical fruit crop
The aim of this study was to develop such technique/treatment which stimulate the aerial offshoots to form a strong root mass with use of different synthetic auxins (1-Naphthaleneacetic acid and 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid) This will increase number of available offshoots of excellent and commercially desirable palm cultivars for large scale plantation; farmers will be able to increase their income as an additional source
Total number of roots per offshoot: Root initiation success in aerial offshoots of date palm is directly related to types of growth regulator applied and their method of application
Summary
Data palm is one of the very old tropical and sub-tropical fruit crop. It was originated from countries of Persian Gulf i.e. Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and North Africa. Date fruit is consumed throughout the world as food due to its high nutritional value with special reference to calories and important minerals. Dates are affluent in certain nutrients and supply a good source of rapid energy due to their high percentage of carbohydrate contents. Due to high content of potassium and low sodium it has great therapeutic value for over sensitive persons who need low sodium in diet. Punjab province shares 6.9% of total production. Many cultivars i.e. Hillawi, Khudrawi, Mekran, Shamran, Dhakki, Aseel, Kur, Shakri, Kupra,Zahidi, Haleeni, Khurma etc are being grown in Punjab and are consumed at different stages
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