Rooting in hardwood cuttings of apple clonal rootstocks using indole-butyric acid and rooting media

The 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.