PRODUCTION OF TRUE-TO-TYPE GUAVA NURSERY PLANTS VIA APPLICATION OF IBA ON SOFT WOOD CUTTINGS

Abstract

This study was conducted at Horticultural Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad, Pakistan during the year 2009-10 and 2010-11 to produce true-to-type nursery plants of guava (Psidium guajava L.). For this purpose nursery experiments were conducted on standardization of clonal propagation technique in guava (cv. Gola) by application of different concentrations of IBA (0, 1, 1.5 and 2%) on guava soft wood cuttings by creating 80-85 percent humidity and 25-28°C temperature in tunnels (1.80 x 0.90 x 0.75 m) covered with polythene sheet. Significantly higher success percentage (55.75%) was noted in soft wood cuttings treated with 1.5 percent IBA as compared to control (13 %). The plants produced 18.46 number of leaves, 9.72 cm sprouting length and 21.70 number of roots as compared to control (10.33 leaves, 4.25 cm sprouting length and 9.69 number of roots). The study provided useful information on clonal multiplication of elite germplasm of guava under protected environment to preserve certain characters and multiplication of cultivar Gola. Keywords: Psidium guajava; callusing; IBA; protected environment; asexual; propagation technique; pedigree plants