EFFECT OF VEGETATIVE GROWTH CYCLE, TIME OF DAY AND CONTAINER SIZE ON VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION SUCCESS OF PROTEA CULTIVARS

L.M. Blomerus
This study investigated the effect of vegetative growth stage of the cutting material and time of day (09:00 and 15:00) when cuttings were harvested on the production of well-rooted, transplantable Proteaceae cuttings. Three different sized rooting containers (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 L) were evaluated in an attempt to promote stronger and less pot bound root systems in transplant-ready plants. Cultivars were selected based on availability and diversity in genetic background: P. repens ‘Sugar Daddy’, P. cynaroides ‘Madiba’, P. eximia × P. susannae ‘Cardinal’, P. eximia × susannae ‘Sylvia’, P. laurifolia × P. magnifica ‘Niobe’, P. compacta × P. susannae ‘Pink Ice’ and P. magnifica × P. susannae ‘Susara’. Vegetative growth stage had an effect on rooting success. ‘Madiba’ and ‘Pink Ice’ were successfully rooted when cuttings were taken between November and May, ‘Sugar Daddy’ between November and March, and ‘Sylvia’ between February and April. Container size did not significantly affect the rooting success of ‘Cardinal’ (62%), ‘Madiba’ (95%), ‘Pink Ice’ (96%) and ‘Sylvia’ (81%). ‘Cardinal’, ‘Madiba’, ‘Pink Ice’, ‘Sugar Daddy’ and ‘Sylvia’ all had significantly more pot-bound cuttings at 24 weeks than at 16 weeks. The time of day when the cuttings were harvested had no significant effect on the number of transplantable cuttings produced by ‘Niobe’ (46%), ‘Pink Ice’ (94%) and ‘Susara’ (80%). Genetic background played a major role in rooting ability of protea.
Blomerus, L.M. (2014). EFFECT OF VEGETATIVE GROWTH CYCLE, TIME OF DAY AND CONTAINER SIZE ON VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION SUCCESS OF PROTEA CULTIVARS. Acta Hortic. 1031, 45-55
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1031.4
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1031.4
cuttings, rooting, scoring scale
English