Role of auxin synergists in the rooting of hardwood and semi hardwood cuttings of fig (Ficus carica L.)

The effect of auxin synergists viz., para hydroxy benzoic acid (PHBA), rutin, morin and phloroglucinol (PG) at 2000 ppm alone and in combination with IBA 2500 ppm on rooting and root characters of fig hardwood and semi hardwood cuttings were evaluated. The results of this study clearly demonstrated that the hardwood cuttings recorded superior to semi hardwood cuttings for all the parameters taken. Among the treatments IBA 2500 ppm + PHBA 2000 ppm recorded highest percentage of rooting, more number of roots per cutting, longest root length per cutting and maximum survival percentage in both hardwood and semi hardwood cuttings. When auxin synergists were used alone could not induce effective rooting, but when used in combination with IBA; PHBA, rutin and morin showed synergistic effect on rooting and other root characters. However, PG showed antagonistic effect with IBA. The interaction effect between type of cutting and treatments showed that hardwood cutting treated with IBA 2500 ppm + PHBA 2000 ppm showed significant superiority in respect to percentage of rooting and other root characters over other treatments.