Abstract
Four woody plant taxa (‘Sparkleberry’ holly, ‘Mariesii’ viburnum, ‘Shasta’ viburnum, and Red Sunset® maple) were propagated from softwood stem cuttings in a recirculating subirrigation propagation system to evaluate the effect on adventitious root formation of three auxin (Dip-n-Grow®) concentrations [0 (water), 20: 1, or 10: 1] and three medium temperatures [20C (68F), 23C (74F), or 26C (79F)]. All taxa showed a positive rooting response to auxin treatment. Compared to cuttings treated with water, root number of all taxa doubled when treated with the highest auxin concentration (10: 1 Dip-n-Grow® dilution). Length of the longest root of rooted cuttings increased with auxin treatment of two taxa. Medium temperature also affected rooting of all taxa. The intermediate temperature evaluated, 23C (74F), was optimal for all rooting parameters on cuttings of ‘Mariesii’ viburnum, and for root length and percentage rooting on cuttings of ‘Shasta’ viburnum and Red Sunset® maple. A propagation medium temperature of 26C (79F) resulted in the greatest root number on cuttings of ‘Shasta’ viburnum, while 20C (68F) was optimal for root number on cuttings of Red Sunset® maple. Root numbers on cuttings of ‘Mariesii’ viburnum were reduced at 20C (68F) and 26C (79F), which appeared to be sub-and supra-optimal temperatures, respectively, for root initiation. All rooting parameters on cuttings of ‘Sparkleberry’ holly increased with propagation medium temperature. Temperature-auxin interactions were apparent for root number and length on cuttings of ‘Mariesii’ and ‘Shasta’ viburnum. The recirculating subirrigation system was useful for evaluating the basal temperature and auxin dose interactions and was effective for rooting softwood stem cuttings without intermittent mist irrigation.