Vegetative propagation of decorative forms of plants of Cupressaceae family under the conditions of the implementation of the artificially intermittent fog cannon

Decorative forms of species of Cupressaceae family are promising plants for green construction. Therefore, the search for optimal methods of their industrial reproduction in nurseries is an urgent task. The present work presents the results of research on the propagation of 60 decorative forms from 4 genera (Chamaecyparis, Juniperus, Platycladus, Thuja and Thujopsis) and 14 species of Cupressaceae family by cuttings using an artificially intermittent fog cannon and a root formation stimulator. All the studied forms show the ability to rhizogenesis. Rootability ranged from 3 to 100%. In the experiments we studied the rooting of woody (taken with a two-year or three-year shoots), softwood (taken in spring of the growth of the current year) and semi-woody (taken from annual shoots) cuttings and a significant dependence of the cuttings to their type was revealed. It was found that the most promising option is the rooting of semi-woody cuttings, which have the highest percentage of rooting, as well as the most intensively developing and powerful root system and accelerated development of the aboveground part. Seedlings obtained as a result of rooting semi-woody cuttings, better tolerate stress after transplanting from the seed plots under the fog cannon to containers and have a high survival rate, which ultimately ensures the production of high-quality planting material. The method of propagation of decorative forms of Cupressaceae family by rooting semi-woody cuttings with the implementation of the fog cannon and root formation stimulators is recommended for widespread implementation in the practice of nursery management.

fog cannon, cutting, rhizogenesis, root formation stimulator, nursery management

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