Adventitious root formation (ARF) was studied in woody leaf bud cuttings of Ficus pumila L., creeping fig. Juvenile cuttings rooted easily, whereas only mature cuttings treated with indole‐3‐butyric acid (IBA) attained any rooting success. In the rooting process, both juvenile and mature material exhibited dedifferentiation of phloem ray parenchyma, root initial formation, primordia differentiation, and root elongation. The early stages of adventitious rooting were most critical since few primordia were observed in mature controls. The stages leading up to root primordia differentiation and elongation occurred more rapidly in IBA‐treated juvenile vs. mature cuttings; however, time differences in both types between first observable roots and maximum rooting were comparable. Root primordia differentiated from basal callus of some cuttings, but neither these nor the few primordia in mature controls elongated into well‐developed roots. Anatomical differences between the juvenile and mature material did not account for rooting disparity, nor did presence of perivascular fibers, sclereids, and laticifers retard rooting.

Light and fertilizer significantly affected light compensation point (LCP) in Ficus benjamina in a 3 × 4 factorial experiment with 0%, 30%, 55% and 80% light exclusion and of 784, 1568 and 2352 kg N+K/ha/year. Increasing shade levels decreased LCP and at each shade level increasing fertilizer rates increased LCP. Fertilizer was less effective than shade in altering LCP. The highest LCP at 0% shade and 784 kg N+K/ha/year was nearly 3 times higher than the lowest LCP at 80% shade and 784 kg N+K/ha/year. Increasing shade and fertilizer levels increased chlorophyll content, plant size and visible quality.

The effects of 2 light levels, (full sun and 47% shade) 3 nitrogen and 3 potassium levels (672, 2018, and 3362 kg/ha yr-1) on light compensation point, shoot and root growth, canopy distribution and leaf tissue nutrient content of Ficus benjamina were determined. The 47% shade treatment during 7 months of production significantly decreased light compensation point levels. N level slightly affected compensation point and K level had no effect. Higher N levels increased shoot growth, while K levels played a dominant role in root development. Light level interacted with both of these effects. N level was positively correlated to percent of the plant canopy contained in the upper half of the plant and this in turn closely was correlated with plant light compensation point.

No abstract

Adventitious root formation (ARF) was studied in woody leaf bud cuttings of Ficus pumila L., creeping fig. Juvenile cuttings rooted easily, whereas only mature cuttings treated with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) attained any rooting success. In the rooting process, both juvenile and mature material exhibited dedifferentiation of phloem ray parenchyma, root initial formation, primordia differentiation, and root elongation. The early stages of adventitious rooting were most critical since few primordia were observed in mature controls. The stages leading up to root primordia differentiation and elongation occurred more rapidly in IBA-treatedjuvenile vs. mature cuttings; however, time differences in both types between first observable roots and maximum rooting were comparable. Root primordia differentiated from basal callus of some cuttings, but neither these nor the few primordia in mature controls elongated into well-developed roots. Anatomical differences between the juvenile and mature material did not account for rooting disparity, nor did presence of perivascular fibers, sclereids, and laticifers retard rooting.