Clonal multiplication of guava (Psidium guajava) through soft wood cuttings using IBA under low-plastic tunnel

The present investigation on clonal multiplication of guava (Psidium guajava L.) soft wood cuttings was done with the aim to determine the most successful media and rooting hormone (IBA) concentration. Guava soft wood cuttings were treated with 0, 200, 400 and 600 mg kg^-1 IBA solution when planted in three different rooting media (sand, silt and top soil) under low-plastic tunnel. The cuttings were allowed to grow under low-plastic tunnel for 90 day to evaluate the rooting capability and shooting competency. The study showed that the species has a great potential for clonal multiplication through soft wood cuttings. The highest number of roots and root length were observed in the cutting treated with 400 mg kg^-1 IBA solution in sand, and the lowest in the cuttings without IBA treatment in sand media. In general 400 mg kg^-1 IBA treatment with silt as rooting media performed better as compared to the other treatments. However, the highest survival percentage (50%) was observed in the cuttings rooted in silt media and treated with 200 mg kg^-1 IBA solution. Experimental results showed the potential of clonal propagation of guava through soft wood cuttings treated with auxin under simpler and cheaper low-plastic tunnel.