Effect of IBA on shoot and root production of guava (Psidium guajava L.) through softwood cuttings cv. Lucknow – 49

Abstract

The study on the Influence of IBA on rooting of guava (Psidium guajava L.) through softwood cuttings cv. Lucknow 49 was carried out at College orchard, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during 2019 -20 with the aim to identify the best IBA concentration suitable for guava softwood cuttings. Nine levels of IBA viz., 250, 500, 1000IBA viz., 250, 500, , 1500IBA viz., 250, 500, , 2000 and 6000 ppm concentrations were prepared and treated with softwood cutting as quick dip method. These cuttings were planted in polybags and kept under mist chamber for sprouting. The study was laid out in a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRD) with nine treatments and three replications. Observations such as sprouting percentage (%), days taken for sprouting (days), number of leaves, shoot length (cm), root length (cm), root weight (g), number of roots per cutting and survival percentage (%) were recorded and analyzed statistically. The results revealed that cuttings treated with IBA solution of 3000 ppm (T6) recorded the highest values of all the traits viz., sprouting percentage (75.50 %), least number of days for sprouting (9.79 days), number of leaves (43.52), shoot length (31.6 cm), root length (3.24 cm), root weight (2.1 g), number of roots (7.2) survival percentage (1.85 g) and root dry weight (110.12 mg) followed by T7 (4000 ppm of IBA) whereas the lowest value was recorded in cuttings treated with 250 ppm of IBA (T1) (54.26 %; 25.90 days; 2.8; 4.50 cm; 18.56; 0.68 g; 3.5; 40.58 %; 99.14 mg). From the conclusion of the present study it was concluded that IBA @ 3000 ppm (T6) treated softwood cuttings recorded the highest values in all the traits and this is one of the alternate method of guava propagation for seedling multiplication.