Effect of different treatments of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on the rooting and growth performance of hardwood cuttings of peach (Prunus persica L. Batch)

The present investigation was conducted on the rooting of the hardwood cuttings of Shan-i- Punjab Peach with the different treatments of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) during the years 2011–12 and 2012–13 at PAU, Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur. The hardwood cuttings of 15-20cm length and 0.8–1.2cm diameter having 5–6 buds were prepared from the dormant twigs of the 8–10 years old peach plants in the first fortnight of January. The basal portion of the cuttings was dipped in different doses of IBA viz. 1000ppm, 2000ppm, 3000ppm, 4000pppm, 5000ppm and control(without IBA treatment) for 1–2 minutes and planted in open field conditions by following the recommended cultural practices for nursery raising. It was observed that hardwood cuttings of peach cv. Shan-i-Punjab treated with 3000ppm of IBA for 1–2 minutes took significantly the minimum number of days to sprouting with the highest sprouting percentage, survival percentage, average number of roots, length of main root, root girth, root weight, plant height, plant girth, number of branches, number of leaves and leaf area. Therefore, by following this treatment, the plants produced from the hardwood cuttings became ready for transplanting in the field in one year instead of two years in case of grafting and there was no chance of graft in-compatability.