Auxin Synergists in Rooting of Cuttings

Leafy cuttings of Eranthemum tricolor were treated with tannic acid, gallic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and salicylic acid at the concentrations of 1000, 100, 10 and 1 nig/1 for 24 hours, whereafter they were dipped quickly in a 1000 mg/l solution of IAA, IBA and NAA for ten seconds. None of the phenolics showed any root promoting effect when used singly. In combination with NAA and IBA tannic acid promoted rooting, however, with IAA there was no effect to be seen. Gallic acid also markedly increased the number of roots of cuttings treated with NAA and IBA. Even in this case there was no effect with IAA. Synergism was also recorded between p-hydroxybenzoic acid and IAA or NAA but not with IBA. Salicylic acid greatly promoted rooting in combination with both IAA, IBA and NAA.