Effects of exogenous hormone and medium on cutting propagation of golden Camellia -Camellia impressinervis

Abstract: Vegetative propagation method such as cutting provide uniform plant materials from mother plants. The effects of medium and exogenous hormone pretreatment on rooting were studied for golden camellia - Camellia impressinervis, a tree species which is used for healthcare. The results showed that exogenous hormone IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid), IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid), and their different concentrations significantly affected rooting efficiency. Cuttings treated with IBA and IAA had significantly higher rooting percentage than control (54.2 %). Higher rooting efficiency was obtained with IBA, which resulted in highest rooting percentage of 91.4 % at 4 months of growth by using concentration of 0.5 % (by weight). Hormone types and their concentrations did not affect mean root number (MRN) and mean root length (MRL). Cutting media significantly affected rooting efficiency, MRN per cutting, and MRL. Using medium of 100 % sand resulted in highest rooting percentage ( 91.4 %), roots per cutting (4.2) and MRL (5.4 cm) at 4 months of growth. It is concluded that to produce seedlings for C. impressinervis by cuttings, rooting medium of 100 % sand should be used and cuttings should be pretreated by 0.5 % IBA. In addition, cutting management is also important for rooting efficiency. It must be controlled with humidity of >95 % and temperature of <27^oC.