Title: A Break Through in Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Propagation from Cutting
Abstract: An investigation was conducted to find out the effect of hormones on the rooting of guava (Psidium guajava L.) Cv Allaabadi cuttings at Agricultural Research Institute, Tarnab, Peshawar during the year 2001-2002. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design. There were two factors that are three different growth regulators and three types of cuttings. Growth regulators for instance, indole butyric acid (IBA), napthalene acetic acid (NAA) and Paclobutrazol each with 1000 ppm in aqueous solution were applied to hardwood, semi hardwood and softwood cuttings. The basal ends of the cuttings were immersed in the desired strength of the growth regulators for 5 min. After treatment the cutting were planted in plastic bags and covered with plastic sheets in order to maintain the humidity in the experimental area. Growth regulator and types of cuttings have non significantly affected the days to bud sprouting. While sprouting percentage, number of branches, shoot length, root length, root weight, number of roots and survival percentage was significantly affected by various growth regulators and types of cuttings (p<=0.05). The results had shown that maximum sprouting (71.22%), more number of branches (3.44), maximum root weight (1.46 g) and better survival (57.22%) were noted in softwood cuttings treated with paclobutrazol at 1000 ppm solution. Maximum number of roots (59.66) and lengthy shoot (8.24 cm) were recorded in soft wood cuttings treated with IBA at 1000 ppm. Early sprouting (17.68 days) and maximum root length 12.81cm were observed in semi hardwood and softwood cuttings respectively, treated with 1000 ppm NAA. In general, the response of growth regulators on hardwood cuttings were completely failed to manifest their superiority in the trial.