Abstract:
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are important to facilitate root formation
and firm plant establishment hence used in vegetative propagation for many years.
Farmers use natural alternative compounds to induce rooting of cuttings. The present
study was conducted to identify the effect of Aloe vera gel on root formation of stem
cuttings and air layering of plants. Three experiments were conducted to compare A.
vera gel with commercially available PGR for root induction of semi hard wood
cuttings(Citrus aurantifolia), softwood cuttings (Coleus spp.) and air layering plants
(Syzygium jambos). Average root length, number of roots and root vigour were
recorded as root traits. Effect of PGR and Aloe vera gel on root traits was not
significantly different for C.aurantifolia and S.jambos. However, effect of PGR was
significantly different on root traits compared to cuttings did not receive either A. vera
gel or PGR. Therefore, synthetic PGRs can be replaced by A. vera gel, a natural
alternative root inducing substance, for semi hardwood cuttings of C. aurantifolia and
air layering of S. jambos but not for softwood cuttings of Coleus spp. These finding
could be used in developing natural root inducing substance and resolving and
reducing the risk of chemical toxicity in plants due to PGRs.
