Effect of cutting time and IBA treatment on rooting and some morphological and physiological traits of stem cuttings in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cv.  Hayward'

Rooting of woody cuttings is a restricted factor in propagation of woody plants. In order to evaluate the effects of cutting time and different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on rooting potential of cuttings of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward), a factorial experimental was carried out based on completely randomized design. The main factor included two cutting times (late-January and mid-March) and the sub factor included 0 (as control), 2500, 5000 and 7500 mg l-1 IBA. Taken cuttings have been cultivated in perlite after treatment with IBA for 5 min. Some traits related to rooting; such as root number and length, physiological; such as root and callus fresh and dry weight and morphological; such as stem length and leaf number were evaluated after three months. The results showed that mid-March cuttings had the largest number of root, root length, root fresh and dry weight, while late- January cuttings had the highest percentage of root dry matter, callus fresh and dry weight, also leaf number. IBA treatment increased traits related to rooting, significantly as the 2500 mg l-1 concentration was the most effective treatment. Treatment of 5000 mg l-1 IBA was induced less rooting with induction of the maximum callus fresh and dry weight. Overall, cutting at mid- March and treatment with 2500 mg l-1 is recommended to rooting the cuttings of kiwifruit cultivar Hayward.