Effect of Preconditioning Treatments and Auxins on the Rooting of Semi-Hardwood Cuttings of Olive Planted During Winter Under Mist Condition

An experiment was conducted during winter to find the effect of girdling, etiolation and auxins i.e. IBA and NAA on rooting of semihardwood cuttings of olive cv. Leccino under mist. The experiment comprised of 13 treatments and was combinations of girdling, etiolation and auxins. The results indicated that the best rooting characteristics viz; highest percent rooted cuttings (53.33), number of primary roots (6.58) and secondary roots (8.53) and diameter (0.46 mm) were maximum with cuttings treated with IBA at 5000 ppm, where as the maximum primary root length (5.30 cm) and secondary root length (2.42) was recorded with the treatment girdling + IBA 4000 ppm + NAA 1000 ppm and IBA 4000 ppm, respectively. Regarding the shoot characteristics viz; plant height (14.59 cm) was recorded highest for the treatment IBA@ 4000 ppm which was at par with the treatment IBA @ 5000 ppm (14.26 cm). Highest plant diameter (2.40 mm), numbers of leaves (16.26) and leaf area (36.42 cm2) were highest for the treatment IBA @ 5000 ppm. Survival percentage of cuttings (71.57 %) was also highest in cuttings treated with IBA @ 5000 ppm. It is concluded that IBA at 5000 ppm was found to be the best treatment for propagation of olive through semihardwood cuttings during winter. keywords: Olive, Auxin, IBA, NAA, Etiolation, Girdling, Rooting, Cutting.