Clonal propagation of guava (Psidium guajava Linn.) by stem cutting from mature stockplants

Abstract

The study describes the scope of clonal propagation of guava (Psidium guajava Linn.) by stem cutting collected from mature stockplants. Cuttings were treated with 0, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8% IBA solution and rooted in the non-mist propagator. Rooted cuttings were allowed to grow in the polybags filled with soil and cow-dung mixed in the ratio of 3: 1 (by volume) for three months to assess the steckling capacity and initial growth performance. The study reveals that the species is amenable for clonal propagation by mature stem cutting. The highest rooting percentage (60%) was observed in the cuttings treated with 0.4% IBA solution followed by 0.2% IBA and the lowest was in controlled cuttings. The maximum number of primary root (32.7) was developed in the cuttings treated with 0.8% IBA solution followed by 0.4% IBA and the lowest was in the cuttings without IBA treatment. The highest survival percentage (70.9) was observed in the cuttings rooted with 0.4% IBA treatment and the lowest (58.3) was in the cuttings without any treatment. However, there was no significant variation in height growth of cutlings due to IBA treatments in rooting.

Keywords

Psidium guajava Linn / Non-mist propagator / Stockplants / Stem cutting / Rooting ability / Stecklings