Influence of cutting position and temperature during rooting on adventitious root formation and axillary bud break of Stephanotis floribunda

Stock plants were grown in a glasshouse under standard growing conditions. Single-node leafbud cuttings were excised and numbered according to the position on the stock plant. Rooting took place at basal temperatures of 17,20 or 23°C and at different durations at 17 or 20°C followed by 23°C. The rooting period lasted 9 weeks.

The temperature of 17°C for 9 weeks completely suppressed root formation. A temperature of 20°C was decisive for root formation. The optimal rooting temperature was higher than 23°C. Temperature treatments of 17 or 20°C for 2–4 weeks only suppressed rooting slightly compared with the 23°C treatment. Cutting position on the stock plant affected the number of roots formed per cutting but not the rooting percentage. Best rooting was observed in cuttings from the middle part of the stock plant.

Axillary bud break was accelerated with increasing rooting temperature and decreasing duration of the lower temperatures. With increasing cutting position number (numbered from top to base), axillary bud break was considerably delayed.

Temperature treatments which delayed root formation also delayed axillary bud break. On the other hand, the cutting position on the stock plant, which had only a minor effect on the speed of root formation, had a pronounced effect on the speed of axillary bud break.