The effects of temperature and exogenous auxin on cutting propagation of some junipers

Abstract

From past to the present, cultural, medicinal, landscape and culinary use of junipers has contrib­uted to it being one of the most widely distributed woody plants in the world. Therefore, it is so important that finding appropriate production methods to obtain quality seedlings in line with the usage area. In the present study, it was tried to determine the best conditions and applications on propagation by cuttings of three juniper taxa including Juniperus communis L. ‘Hibernica’, Juniperus chinensis L. ‘Stricta’, and Juniperus chinensis L. ‘Stricta Variegata’. For this purpose, two different greenhouse treatments (Greenhouse-1 with the air temperature at 20±2°C, rooting table temperature at 25±2°C and humidity level at 70±2%; Green­house-2 with the air temperature at 20±2°C, rooting table temperature at 20±2°C and humidity level at 70±2%) and different auxin applications (Indole-3-Butyric Acid, Indole-3-Acetic Acid and α-Naphthalene Acetic Acid at concentrations of 3000 and 5000 ppm) were designed. The highest rooting percentages were generally achieved in Greenhouse-1. IAA 5000 ppm treatment for J. communis ‘Hibernica’ (93.33%) and J. chinensis ‘Stricta’ (66.67%, also in Greenhouse-2) and IBA 3000 ppm treatment for J. chinensis ‘Stricta Var­iegata’ (60.00%) showed the best rooting results. This study, in which the best production conditions are investigated in some juniper taxa, is a guiding feature for the producers to ensure the sustainable utilization of junipers.