Patterns of adventitious root formation in English ivy

Adventitious root formation by debladed petiole cuttings of English ivy (Hedera helix L.) proceeds via a direct rooting pattern for the easy-to-root juvenile phase, while the difficult-to-root mature phase roots through an indirect rooting pattern. Juvenile petiole cuttings treated with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA, 100 μM) plus the polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor, difluoromethylarginine (DFMA, 1 mM), formed an increased number of roots per cutting initiated by the indirect rooting pattern. The increased root formation and change in rooting pattern were reversed by the addition of putrescine (1 mM). Delaying auxin application to petiole cuttings for 15 days also induced juvenile petioles to root by the indirect pattern. This could be reversed by rewounding the base of the cutting prior to auxin application after day 15. The data support the use of the terms “competent root-forming cells” and “induced competent root-forming cells” to describe the target cells for the initial events of root formation for the direct and indirect rooting patterns, respectively.