EEffect of Pre-planting Treatments and Cutting Date on Performance of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Semi-Hard Wood Cuttings.

The objective of this work was to reach the best treatment that caused the high rooting and survival percentages in guava semi-hard wood cuttings. Investigation was carried out at the Baramoon Experimental Farm, Horticulture Research Institute Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during two seasons 2016-2017. The semi-hard wood cuttings were taken in May and July from 22 years old uniform trees of guava cv. Montakab El-Sabahia cv. immediately after collection, all cuttings were soaked in 15% activated charcoal (AC) for 3 hours. The experiment was laid out in complete randomized blocks design. Number of treatments were 9; (IBA 3000ppm T1, IBA 4500ppm T2, IBA 5000ppm T3, Ethephon 600ppm + Benzoic acid 100ppm + IBA 3000ppm T4, Ethephon 600ppm + Benzoic acid 100ppm + IBA 4500ppm T5, Ethephon 600ppm + Benzoic acid 100ppm + IBA 5000ppm T6, Ethephon 600ppm + Citric acid 100ppm + IBA 3000ppm T7, Ethephon 600ppm + Citric acid 100ppm + IBA 4500ppm T8 and Ethephon 600ppm + Citric acid 100ppm + IBA 5000ppm T9). Cuttings collected during May gave the better results. Among different treatments T5 could be recommended, as it was the best in teams of rooting percentage 70%, number of roots per cutting 4.3, length of roots 4.32 cm, root fresh weight per cutting 3.35g and survival percentage of rooted cuttings 50%.