Rooting capacity of hardwood cuttings of some fruit trees in relation to cutting pattern

Abstract

Study two cut patterns in hardwood cuttings of (Cydonia oblonga), (Punica granatum) and (Ficus carica). The cuttings have been cut either straight with different internode stub lengths [0 (just onto the basal node as control), 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 cm below the basal node], or slant with 45 degree angle for each length mentioned above (except the first length (0 cm). Effect of the basal cut directions on rooting percentage and other shoot and root characteristics were not significantly different, while the effect of slant cut pattern on one-side rooting at the basal margin observed in some quince cuttings but it was rarely observed in pomegranate and fig cuttings. Quince cuttings gave no different rooting percentage and other shoot and root characteristics significantly with different internode stub lengths. While, internode stub 1 and 2 cm in pomegranate cuttings, and 0 cm in fig cuttings gave the best rooting percentages 44.44% and 100%, respectively. Also, interaction effects of the two factors on rooting percentage and other shoot and root characteristics were just significantly different in pomegranate and fig cuttings. The best rooting capacity achieved in pomegranate cuttings (49.99%) in those were cut straightly at the base with 1 and 2 cm basal internode stub lengths, and fig cuttings straightly cut at the base with 0 and 1 cm basal internode stub lengths gave the highest rooting capacity (100%).