Propagation of Ornamental Plants
5(4): 205-209, 2005
EFFECT OF CUTTING SIZE ON PROPAGATION EFFICIENCY OF HIPPEASTRUM X CHMIELII BY SCALE CUTTINGS
Maria Witomska*, Agnieszka Ilczuk, and Iwona Zalewska
Department of Ornamental Plants, Warsaw Agricultural University 159 Nowoursynowska str., 02-776 Warszawa, Poland, *Fax: +48 22 59 322 68, *E-mail: org_kro@alpha.sggw.waw.pl
Abstract
The effects of storage temperature of mother bulbs, scale cutting size, and incubation medium on bulblet regeneration on scale cuttings of Hippeastrum x chmielii was tested. Endogenous carbohydrate contents were also determined in mother bulbs stored for 4 months at 10ºC in order to check if there is a relationship between endogenous sugar levels and regeneration ability of scales. Storage of mother bulbs at 20ºC negatively affected the sanitary state of cuttings during the incubation period. Perlite was a more appropriate medium for incubation of cuttings than a mixture of perlite and peat. Cutting size significantly affected the number of regenerated bulblets, as well as their diameter and fresh weight. Cuttings practically did not differ in their endogenous carbohydrate contents, and therefore, there was no relationship between sugar levels and regeneration ability.
Key words: endogenous carbohydrates, incubation medium, scale cuttings, temperature.
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