Standardization of type of cuttings and optimization of IBA concentration for rooting in Crossandra (<em>Crossandra infundibuliformis</em>)

Abstract

Three types of cuttings were taken from the crossandra field in the Botanical Garden, TNAU. Terminal, middle and bottom cuttings were taken from already established healthy, flowering crossandra plants. Terminal cuttings indicate the cuttings (10-15cm length with 2 nodes) that were taken from the tip/growing region of the crossandra plant. The tip/growing region is the terminal region of the plant. Middle cuttings (10 to 15cm length with 2 nodes) indicate those cuttings that were taken, leaving the terminal region i.e., 10 to 15 cm from the tip region. Bottom cuttings (10 to 15 cm length with 2 nodes) indicate those cuttings that were taken below the middle region i.e., taken leaving 30 cm from the terminal region. These cuttings were dipped in 100, 200, 300 ppm of IBA along with control prior to planting in portrays. The study revealed that the dipping of middle cuttings in 200 ppm of IBA had a positive influence on the root length, root volume, shoot girth parameters which may be suitable for better field establishment. Among the treatments, treatment of IBA 200 ppm with middle cuttings prior to planting proved superior in respect of root length, root volume, shoot girth and other important growth parameters.