Timing and Hormone Effects On Rooting of Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Butterscotch' Cuttings

Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Butterscotch’ is a beautiful ornamental plant for green hedges and group planting in the landscape. To produce quality rooted cuttings for the demanded market, stem cuttings were collected in June, July, August, and early September from newly sprouted twigs and treated with IBA, NAA, and powdery IBA at 1000, 3000, and 8000 mg.L^-1, respectively. Rooting percentage and rooting quality (number of roots per cutting) were after two months. Timing significantly affected rooting of stem cuttings. The rooting percentage ranged from 10.2% (September) to 22.4% (July). Hormone greatly improved the rooting of stem cuttings. The highest rooting rate (63.5%) and the highest number of roots per cutting (7.5) were observed under the treatment of powdery IBA (hormodin #3, 8000 mg.L^-1). Powdery IBA had better effect than that of liquid IBA and NAA. Low concentrations (1000 and 3000 mg.L^-1) of liquid IBA yielded 35.6% and 30.3% rooting rates, respectively. However, high concentration of IBA (8000 mg.L^-1) and NAA (8000 mg.L^-1) produced 20.2% and 19.7% and reduced the ability of root elongation.. NAA at 1000 and 3000 mg.L^-1 had the rooting percentage lower than that of IBA. The findings confirmed that growth regulator could be a useful for increasing rooting percentage and quality of Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Butterscotch’. Cuttings should be collected in July or August and prepared with hormodin#3.