Clonal Variation in Rooting Eucalypt Cuttings With Different Levels of IBA Concentrations

The present study involves combined effect of genotypes and IBA concentrations on rooting and related parameters in eucalypts cuttings. The study was conducted in the propagation chamber installed in Wimco Seedlings which is used for commercial production of clonal eucalypts. It involves 13 commercially grown clones viz., BCM 288, BCM 2023, BCM 413, BCM 411, BCM 2135, BCM 316, BCM 2070, BCM 2045, BCM 2306, BCM 526, Wimco 12 and, K 23 and K 25 and 5 concentrations of IBA viz., 0 ppm, 2500 ppm, 5000 ppm, 7500 ppm and 10000 ppm. Results indicate improvement in rooting percent, number of 1^st and 2^nd order roots, length of main lateral root, number of roots emerged out of bottom hole of root trainer cavity, shoot length and sprouting percent of the cuttings. There was significant clonal variation in rooting and related parameters. Five clones viz., BCM 413, Wimco 12, BCM 411, BCM 316 and BCM 2045 gave over 90% rooting even without application of IBA. Clone BCM 288 was designated as difficult to root as it gave less than 60% rooting even with maximum level of IBA concentration. Grouping of clones in different rooting ability categories with application of different levels of IBA concentrations indicate moving of many clones from difficult to root category to easy to root category with application of higher concentrations of IBA.