Stenting -A new technique for sweet cherry and pear propagation under polyhouse conditions

Scion of sweet cherry genotypes were grafted onto non-rooted cuttings of clonal rootstock Colt as well as on rooted stock treated with different concentrations of IBA. While, scions of Baggugosha pear were grafted onto non-rooted cuttings of Quince A rootstock treated with different IBA concentrations as quick dip method. In sweet cherry, application of IBA at 5000 ppm to the non-rooted cuttings of clonal rootstocks was found to be the best treatment as it increased root formation and subsequent growth of stentlings. Stentlings attained saleble height at the end of growing season with well-developed roots. Maximum stentling height (181.8 cm) was observed in IBA application at 5000 ppm. Similarly, IBA application produced the maximum lateral shoots, internode length, root length and root number in both non-rooted and rooted stocks. Application of IBA at 5000 ppm had also resulted higher rooting and subsequent stentling growth till it attained the saleble size at the end of growing season. This technique could shorten the nursery production duration to one season, February to December under protected structures.