Effect of sucrose, auxins and gibberellic acid on rooting of stem segments of Populus nigra under varying light conditions

This paper deals with the effects of sucrose, IAA, IBA and GA₃on rooting stem segments of Populus in a sterile culture whenexposed to varying periods of continuous dark. The results demonstrate that segments shorter than 3.5 cm inlength, root only when exposed to 3 or more days of darkness,the number of roots increasing with the number of days in dark.The dark requirement for rooting can be substituted both byIAA and IBA, as rooting occurred with auxins even under continuouslight. The failure of control segments to root under continuouslight is ascribed to low auxin content due either to inadequatesynthesis or its inactivation by light. This deficiency canbe met either by exogenous application of auxins or by increasingthe size of the segments. GA₃inhibits rooting under favourablelight conditions although it stimulates sprouting of buds andsubsequent elongation. Sucrose increases the effectiveness ofauxins. (Received July 15, 1968; )