ROOT FORMATION IN CUTTINGS OF APPLE (cv. BRAMLEY'S SEEDLING) IN RELATION TO RINGBARKING AND TO ETIOLATION

SUMMARY The effect of excising a cylinder of bark from the base of growing shoots on subsequent root formation in the cuttings was examined in the difficult‐to‐root apple scion variety ‘Bramley's Seedling’. Ringbarking was found to enhance root formation only in etiolated segments of stem and when it was made proximal to the etiolated segment, since root formation took place preferentially distal to the ringbark. A second distal ringbark nullified the promotory influence of a proximal excision. Etiolation, together with proximal ring‐barking, induced root formation in up to 98% of the cuttings.