Optimisation of indole butyric acid concentrations in dragon fruit (Selenicereus polyrhizus) stem cuttings under nursery condition of semi-arid region of Rajasthan, India
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Keywords:
Dragon cladode, IBA concentration, Root dry weight, SproutingAbstract
The study was carried out during November to February 2024–25 in shade house established at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Pali Marwar, Rajasthan to assess the effect of different concentrations of rooting hormone on dragon fruit stem cuttings. Dragon fruit stem cuttings collected from two-year-old mother plant treated with different Indole-3 Butyric Acid (IBA) concentrations revealed that irrespective of the length of cuttings, maximum sprouting (92%) was obtained in 250 ppm closely followed by 88% in 500 and 750 ppm. The mean cladode length and rooting parameters were better in IBA @750 ppm. Rooting length and number of roots exhibited a strong linear relationship with root dry weight. These results provide valuable insights into optimising rooting hormone concentrations for mass multiplication of dragon fruit plants under semi-arid region of Rajasthan.
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