Study on the Rooting Physiological Mechanism of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. Green-Branched Cuttings

Abstract

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. is an important medicinal plant in northeast China. Cutting propagation is an effective method for the rapid propagation of many tree species. This research aimed to determine a suitable growing medium and appropriate root hormone type, concentration and treatment time through the utilization of different substrates and hormones to treat one-year-old branches of S. chinensis. The optimal treatment achieved a rooting rate of 60% with 225 ppm ABT and 75 ppm NAA for 2.5 h. The substrate of vermiculite/perlite = 1:1 (urea+potassium) was beneficial to the adventitious root formation, which reached 79%. The adventitious root primordium of S. chinensis originated from the junction of the xylem and cambium. ABT and NAA treatments altered the peak timing of POD, PPO and IAAO in S. chinensis cuttings. During the adventitious root formation of S. chinensis cuttings, the high endogenous IAA concentration promoted the occurrence of adventitious roots in the early stage and the lower endogenous IAA and GA3 concentrations promoted the elongation and growth of adventitious roots in the later period. Low ABA and ZR concentrations enabled adventitious root formation and elongation. An efficient cutting propagation system would enable the mass propagation of S. chinensis seedlings.