Rooting response of plum hardwood cuttings to IBA in relation to treatment duration and cutting moisture content

The rooting response of plum rootstock hardwood cuttings to 50, 500 and 5000 ppm IBA was influenced by the duration of treatment in the auxin solution, 18 min, 30 sec and 5 sec being needed to achieve similar levels of rooting at the respective concentrations.

A delay between collection and IBA treatment of cuttings, resulting in a partial water deficit, caused an increase in IBA uptake which was associated with increased rooting. For Myrobalan B a delay of 22 hours at 60 °F (15.5 °C) and 50% RH, leading to a 10% moisture loss, was optimal.