Effect of cutting length and thickness on rooting of geranium plant pelargonium hortorum cuttings in Basrah City

Abstract EN

The study was conducted in a private nursery in Basrah city from 16 / 3 until 30 / 8 / 2011 to investigate the effect of three cutting lengths (8, 10 and 12 cm) and three cutting thickness (6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 mm) on the rooting of tip shoots cuttings of geranium plant Pelargonium hortorum L.

Data were tabulated on rooting percentage, number of roots per cutting, average root length and dry matter of roots, in a factorial experiment designed with a Complete.

Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications, the first factor was cutting length and the second one was cutting thickness.

Results showed a significant increase in rooting percentage, number of roots per cutting, average root length and dry mater of root in the cuttings of 10 and 12 cm length, similar results were obtained from cuttings of 12-8-10 and 10 mm thickness.

The interaction between the two factors was found significant in rooting percentage (66.1%) in cuttings of 12 cm long and 10-12 mm thickness and number of roots per cutting (2.9) obtained from the same previous ones, while it was not significant in the other two indicators