Impact of Auxins on Rooting and Establishment of Seedless Lemon (Citrus limonL. Burm.) Air-layers for Successful Propagation

Study Design: Randomized Block Design.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, MP between 2018 - 2019.

Methodology:In 2018-19 the study conducted amidst rainy season and Gird agro-climatic context of Madhya Pradesh to evaluate the effect of phytohormones on rooting and establishment of seedless lemon air layers. Experiment consisting nine treatments replicated three times under Randomized Block Design. Treatments comprising of two plant hormones namely IBA and NAA each with four concentration levels i.e. 1250, 2500, 3750 and 5000ppm including control. Plants age were seven years.

Results:The results revealed maximal rooting percentage (92.00), number of primary roots (22.72) and secondary roots (49.97), length of primary roots (5.05 cm) and secondary roots (2.25 cm), diameter of primary roots (1.68 mm) and secondary roots (0.84 mm) and dry weight of roots (2.32g) and planted air-layers (89.21 %) were recorded with application of IBA @ 5000ppm.

Conclusion:Indole-3-butyric acid performed better than naphthalene acetic acid for promoting rooting and establishment in seedless lemon air-layers. Application of IBA @ 5000ppm significantly increased rooting characters followed by NAA @5000ppm for better establishment of Lemon air layers for its propagation.