The effect of light on the rooting of leafy cuttings

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae Vol. 27; no. 1-2; pp. 105 - 111
• Main Authors: Grange, R.I., Loach, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.1985; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Artificial regeneration. Forest nurseries. Planting; Biological and medical sciences; cuttings; Forestry; Forsythia intermedia; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Hibiscus syriacus; leaf water potential; light; light intensity; propagation; rooting; solute potential; turgor; Vegetative propagation. Micropropagation; Vegetative propagation. Sowing and planting. Harvesting; Viburnum bodnantense; water stress; Weigela florida; cuttings; turgor; propagation; solute potential; light; Malvaceae; Hibiscus syriacus; Vegetative propagation; Caprifoliaceae; Oleaceae; Rhizogenesis; Ornamental crop; Environmental factor; Woody plant; Viburnum; Forsythia intermedia; Cutting(agronomy); Dicotyledones; Light; Angiospermae; Shrubs; Spermatophyta
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-4238(85)90060-3
• ISSN: 0304-4238

High light (over 2.0 MJ m−2 day−1) reduced rooting in cuttings of Viburnum × bodnantense, Forsythia × intermedia and Hibiscus syriacus. Leaf water potential decreased (became more negative) in high light, but this was compensated in Viburnum by a decrease in osmotic potential (increasing solutes) so that leaf turgor pressure was constant despite different light levels. The reduction of rooting appeared to be due to the accumulation of solutes in high light. In Hibiscus cuttings, water potentials were lower, and although solute accumulation occurred it was insufficient to maintain turgor pressure. Hibiscus cuttings lost turgor in high light, and cuttings rooted less well than in lower light. Loss of turgor and/or solute accumulation may have been responsible. Comparison of the water relations of leaves and stem bases of Forsythia cuttings showed that turgor pressure was maintained in the base even though leaves were stressed: basal turgor pressure was determined more by basal solute level than leaf water potential. The accumulation of solutes in the base appeared to inhibit rooting in high light. Rooting of Weigela cuttings did not respond clearly to light, turgor or solute levels; factors other than those assessed in this experiment may have governed the behaviour of this subject.