Methods to Improve the Rooting of Hardwood Cuttings of the ‘Gisela 5’ Cherry Rootstock

Abstract

The effect of external factors on the rooting of hardwood cuttings of the ‘Gisela 5’ cherry rootstock (Prunus cerasus × Prunus canescens) was studied. Experiments were conducted with cuttings of different lengths (15, 20, 25, and 30 cm) and diameters (6 to 8, 9 to 11, and 12 to 14 mm) and with different indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 g·L−1). Significantly improved rooting was achieved using cuttings 20 cm long and 9 to 11 mm in diameter collected in November or March from the upper part of the parent shoot and subsequently quick-dipped in 1 g·L−1 IBA solution. Cuttings placed vertically in perlite:peat (1:1) or perlite with bottom heat gave the best rooting percentage. No effect on callusing or rooting of cuttings was found after incubation of cutting in suspensions of Agrobacterium rubi. If the optimal combination of factors is selected, ‘Gisela 5’ can be propagated from hardwood cuttings with a rooting efficiency of ≈50%.