AbstractThe present investigation was carried out to obtain best combination of rooting media and IBA concentration for propagating apple clonal rootstocks in the experimental field of Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar campus, Srinagar. The experiment consisted of three rootstocks (S1: M7, S2: M9T337 and S3: MM106), three IBA concentrations (G1: 2500 ppm, G2: 3000 ppm and G3: 3500 ppm) and four combinations of rooting media M1: Sand + Vermicompost (1:1), M2: Sand + Vermicompost + Vermiculite (1:1:1), M3: Sand + Vermicompost + Perlite (1:1:1) and M4: Sand + Vermicompost + Cocopeat (1:1:1). Results obtained revealed that S3G2M3 treatment combination i.e. (MM106 + 3000 ppm + Sand + Vermicompost + Perlite (1:1:1)) recorded significantly highest root diameter (3.79 mm), maximum number of roots (13.00), maximum average root length (38.33 cm), maximum length of longest root per cutting (52.00 cm), highest fresh weight of root (7.50 g) as well as dry weight of root (3.56 g) and maximum percentage of rooted cuttings (66.66%). The maximum root: shoot ratio (0.23) was recorded in rootstock cuttings with treatment combination S3G2M4. The results obtained from this study can be utilized to create a protocol for production of quality planting material of apple clonal rootstocks through cuttings.
Sachin et al. (Wed,) studied this question.