Rooting of chrysanthemum cuttings. Influence of irradiance during stock plant growth and of decapitation and disbudding of cuttings

Stock plants of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. cultivar ‘Improved Mefo’ were grown in a controlled-environment room at different levels of irradiance (9, 23, 53 or 90 W m^?2). After 3 weeks, cuttings were excised and rooted for 3 weeks at an irradiance of 16 W m^?2. Cuttings from stock plants grown at the highest irradiance had the highest number of roots, while cuttings from the lowest irradiance had the lowest number of roots.The importance of the presence of shoot meristems for root formation was investigated through disbudding and decapitation at different times after the excision of the cuttings. Removing the buds on the day of excision had no effect on the number of roots formed, while the removal of the buds on day 2 to day 5 after excision had a promotive effect. Removal later than 7 days after excision had no effect at all.The results are discussed from the point of view that an interaction between nutritional and hormonal factors regulates the process of root formation.