Effect of IBA on rooting in West Indian cherry (Malpighia galbra L.) cuttings.

Abstract: West Indian cherry (Malpighia galbra [M. glabra]), a rich source of vitamin C [ascorbic acid], has a problem in propagation through seeds. Indole butyric acid (IBA) at 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm was tried in hard and semi-hard wood cuttings for vegetative propagation. After 90 days, maximum survival (90%), number of leaves (25.0), number of primary branches (6.60), and number of secondary branches (6.60) were recorded in hard wood cuttings treated with IBA at 1500 ppm. Similarly, the maximum number of primary roots (9.37), number of secondary roots (16.37), length of primary roots (22.04 cm), and length of secondary roots (15.10 cm) were observed in hard wood cuttings treated with IBA at 1500 ppm. The hard wood cuttings treated with 1500 ppm IBA were most successful for the vegetative propagation of West Indian cherry.