Rooting stimulation in muscadine grape cuttings

Abstract

The muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) is native to Florida and has been cultivated for many years in U.S.A. It is harvested as single berries instead of in bunches and has small leaves. The fruit skin is thicker than those of bunch-type grapes. One reason for its popularity is that the muscadine is seldom seriously affected by diseases or insects. The muscadine grape is not readily propagated by hardwood cuttings, therefore the present work was carried out to develop a method for commercial propagation of its cuttings, using treatments with growth regulators (auxins) and low temperature. The results showed that the rooting of both basal and middle shoots of muscadine grape is better than the rooting of terminal sections of the shoots. Cuttings treated with low temperature (4°C) during 24 hours, or immersion of the cutting's bases in solutions of Exuberone 10 and 20 ml.l-1, promoted rooting of middle and basal cuttings, respectively. The growth of leaves in both basal and middle cuttings was superior in the treatment with low temperature.