Rooting of Berberis and Ligustrum cuttings from stock plants grown at selected light intensities

Abstract

Plants of Berberis thunbergii DC., B. thunbergii DC, ‘Atropurpurea’, Ligustrum obtusifolium Seibold and Zucc. var. regelianum (Koehne) Rehd., and L. × vicaryi Beckett were grown at 37, 53, 70 and 100% full sunlight to determine rootability of cuttings. Rooting hormone levels of 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.8% IBA in talc were applied to the cuttings, and % rooting, root length, and fresh and dry weights were recorded. Optimum rooting of cuttings of Berberis resulted when stock plants were grown at 70% light, with 37% light being the next most successful. Optimum rooting of cuttings of Ligustrum obtusifolium var. regelianum resulted when stock plants were grown at 37% light. Rooting of Ligustrum × vicaryi did not respond to light intensity. An interaction between rooting-hormone and light intensity was noted for root length of Ligustrum species.