Rooting response of Dalbergia sissoo as affected by auxins and genotype

Abstract

Variability studies are prerequisite for genetic upliftment of any tree species. Genetic variability in shoot coppicing ability and rooting of juvenile shoot cuttings was studied in five clones of Dalbergia sissoo (Shisham) Roxb. belonging to five diverse geographical locations representing Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan and Nepal. Studies were conducted in vegetative multiplication garden (VMG) of Dalbergia sissoo maintained at Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun in year 2003. Six to seven cm long softwood, single nodal cuttings were prepared and treated with IBA 2000 ppm and IBA 4000 ppm by Dry Dip Smear method. The control was treated with talcum powder only. After six weeks of planting, data were recorded on various rooting parameters. Significant variation in coppicing and rooting potentiality was observed for different clones. The survival percentage ranged from 82.3 to 100 percent with the maximum being of C14 (Haridwar). There were significant differences (P<0.001) among clones in time taken for shoot emergence, number of shoots produced and mean length of shoots. Significant variation was observed for percent rooting, percent sprouting, mean length of sprout and root amongst various clones. Maximum rooting and sprouting was observed in C86, (Rajasthan). Percent rooting, sprouting, mean number of sprouts, sprout length, mean number of roots and root length had significant increase with higher concentrations of IBA. The interactive effect of clone and IBA is significant only for sprout length, root length and number of leaflets. Thus, selection of clones with good coppicing and rooting ability can be made to produce maximum number of high-quality propagules in Dalbergia sissoo.