Improved rooting of Gisela-5 softwood cuttings following banding and IBA application

Abstract

A stock plant etiolation treatment was tested to improve rooting of the important cherry rootstock Gisela-5. To create the etiolation effect, at the beginning of the growing season, banding (blanching) was initiated on stock plants by placing black plastic tape at the base of new shoots for 6 or 10 weeks. Cuttings were excised so that the banded area was at the cutting base. IBA was applied at two concentrations (5 and 10 mm) to the cutting base following wounding and cuttings were placed in perlite (100%) rooting medium under mist. The rooting percentage, number of roots per cutting and root length were measured 4 weeks after planting. Banding and duration significantly stimulated rooting of leafy softwood cuttings. The highest rooting percentage (80.0%) was obtained on cuttings banded for 6 weeks and treated with 5 mm IBA.