PROLIFERATION AND ROOTING TESTS OF Prunus avium ROOT SEGMENTS CUTTINGS: EFFECT OF AUXIN AND CUTTING DATE

Abstract

Prunus avium (Rosaceae) is a component of biodiversity in forest ecosystems: its fruits are eaten by many birds and its early flowering gives it a high aesthetic value. In northwestern Tunisia, Prunus avium is a species exploited as a rootstock for cherry trees and as wood for cabinet making by local populations. The natural stands, which have been steadily decreasing for several decades, are threatened by various anthropic pressures, which are increasingly strong, reducing the species' natural regeneration capacity. The natural renewal of the wild cherry ecosystem in Tunisia is difficult, which makes it possible to advance the techniques of artificial vegetative propagation to improve the distribution of this species. The present study focuses on the production potential of rooted seedlings from root segment cuttings. The study shows that this type of cuttings is significantly influenced by the sampling date and the use of a growth hormone (IBA). The best results (60% rooting), were obtained for the January cutting and 50 mg/l of IBA. Rooting of 10% of the cuttings was achieved in the absence of the AIB treatment for the in month of January.