Application of Indole-3-acetic Acid (IAA), Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) for Enhancing Clonal Propagation of Fig (Ficus carica L.)
C. Muruganandam
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, 608002, Tamil Nadu, India.
S. Sharvesh
*
Department of Horticulture, Mother Terasa College of Agriculture, Pudukkottai, 622102, Tamil Nadu, India.
T. Kalidasan
Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, 608002, Tamil Nadu, India.
V. Vallarasu
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, 608002, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study entitled “Application of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) for Enhancing Clonal Propagation of Fig fruit (Ficus carica L.)” was conducted during 2022–2023 at a farmer’s nursery in Erode District, Tamil Nadu, to evaluate the influence of experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD) with ten treatments and three replications, using 450 cuttings of the drought-tolerant ‘Afghan’ cultivar. Treatments included three concentrations each of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), along with an untreated control. The basal ends of the cuttings were subjected to a 30-second quick dip in the respective plant growth regulator solutions, and rooting was carried out under mist-chamber conditions. Data were statistically analysed using standard methods and critical differences were determined at the 5% level of significance. The highest values were recorded with IBA @ 3500 ppm (T3), which showed the earliest sprouting (10.70 days), maximum shoot length (21.43 cm), fresh shoot weight (46.44 g), dry shoot weight (35.63 g), shoot diameter (12.98 mm), leaf number (10.59), leaf dimensions (length 15.56 cm, width 13.28 cm) and survival rate (87.88%). The findings suggest that IBA at 3500 ppm is optimal for efficient clonal propagation of fig hardwood cuttings, as the enhanced growth and survival of treated cuttings may be attributed to auxin-mediated stimulation of physiological processes, including root initiation, cell elongation and nutrient uptake.
Keywords: Fig, hardwood cuttings, auxins, IBA, vegetative propagation, shoot growth