A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the rooting of stem cuttings of peach (Prunus persica SIEB) in order to establish effective methods of producing a large number of cuttings within a short period of time. Major results can be summarized as follows:
1. Based on the rooting percentage and root fresh weight, the most suitable time for stem cutting was found to be from late August to early September.
2. Sprouted nodal cutting i.e. softwood heel cutting is proved to be a highly effective method for propagation of softwood cuttings. The longer or vigorously growing new shoots rooted significantly better than short or weakly growing new shoots.
3. Bottom portion of a twig showed better rooting than middle or top portion, especially in the case of hardwood stem cuttings.
4. Cuttings taken from 3-year-old trees rooted significantly better than those taken from 8-year-old trees. Among the twig samples taken from 3-year-old trees, terminal shoots whose terminal bud removed rooted slightly better than the terminal shoots with terminal bud retained.
5. Those semihardwood and hardwood cuttings of 30∼35㎝ in length showed the best rooting followed by those cuttings of 15∼18㎝ in length.
6. Those cuttings having 4∼8㎜ in stem diameter rooted better than other cuttings of either thinner to be 3㎜ or thicker to be 10㎜ in stem diameter.
7. Among the various tested methods of cuts and wounding, best rooting was obtained when the basal end of the cutting was given one-slant-cut and two slice-woundings to the stem base of the semihardwood cuttings.
8. Mixture of peatmoss and perlite was highly effective in increasing the percentage of rooting as well as the root growth.
9. Treatment of IBA 2,000ppm was most effective in promoting rooting of sprouted nodal cuttings taken in May.
10. The best rooting percentage of softwood cuttings was obtained when the basal cut end was dipped in NAA 1,500ppm or IBA 500ppm solution. However, best root formation expressed as total root fresh weight per cutting was obtained with NAA 500ppm or IBA 2,500ppm treatment. The highest rooting percentage of the semihardwood cuttings was obtained with NAA 1,500 ppm treatment. Root fresh weight per cutting was higher in the cuttings treated with NAA 1,500ppm, NAA 2,500ppm, and IBA 2,500ppm.
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