Leaf Water Potential and the Rooting of Cuttings under Mist and Polythene

The relationship between leaf water potential and rooting was investigated in cuttings of Rhododendron (Hardy Hybrid) ‘Mrs. W. Agnew’, Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Esch. and Hebe (Garden Hybrid) ‘Caledonia’ (of the ‘Mrs. Winder’ group), during propagation under mist and polythene. Water potentials well below –10 bars frequently occurred and low mean water potentials related to poor rooting. Propagation under polythene gave better results than mist in the lower radiation conditions of winter but the reverse occurred under high radiation conditions. Treatment of cuttings with a poly-vinyl resin antitranspirant coating temporarily increased leaf water potentials in the consistently humid conditions under polythene but not under mist. The coating peeled and lost its effectiveness within 6 weeks. Multiple regression analysis showed that much of the variation in water potential in cuttings under mist could be accounted for by inclusion of three variables, viz. current day's radiation, number of days from insertion of the cuttings and either the previous day's leaf water potential or radiation. Under polythene the influence of yesterday's water potential was relatively unimportant, probably because cuttings were able to take up water overnight from condensation on the under surface of the polythene. For optimal rooting, propagation procedure must ensure that high leaf water potentials are maintained, but conventional methods do not always achieve this.