Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(4): 1482-1487 1482 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.604.181 Influence of Root Pruning on Stem and Root Morphology of Poplar (Populus deltoides) Clones Neeta Shweta Kerketta*, Afaq Majid Wani, Sameer Daniel and Hemant Kumar College of Forestry, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Allahabad-(211007), Uttar Pradesh, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction The fast growing tree species of choice belong to genus Populus which belongs to family Salicaceae.To fulfill the increasing demand for forest products, fast-growing trees such as poplar are grown on the managed plantations and are being seriously considered for future supply needs. Poplars are widely grown for its multipurpose uses. Populus includes the specie eastern cottonwood (P. deltoides) often characterized as fast-growing, moisture-loving, and shade-intolerant medium to large trees with a short life span. Cottonwood can be naturally regenerated usually by seeds. They can be also propagated by the usual of vegetative reproduction. They mostly occur in the low lying moist alluvial grounds tolerate flooding for a short time during the rainy season and can be propagated vegetatively. Poplars are one of the most easily cloned woody species, which allows for greater availability of promising crosses. Numerous methods are available for regulating vegetative growth in deciduous tree species (Miller and Tworkoski, 2003). It has been used as a horticultural practice to produce sturdier trees, force development of a more compact fibrous root system, retard top growth and increase transplant survival and post transplant growth (Mullin, 1988). Root systems with numerous laterals roots are one of the most essential attributes of high quality seedlings (Aldhus, 1994). Moreover, the form International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 4 (2017) pp. 1482-1487 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com The aim of the study was to determine the influence of root pruning on the above and below ground vegetative growth of poplar (Populus deltoides) clones viz., S 7 C 15 and Uday in 2012-13 at College of Forestry, SHUATS, Allahabad (U.P). The experiment involved a factorial randomized block design which had five treatments(P 1 – Control (un-pruned roots), P 2 - root pruned at 5 cm, P 3 - root pruned at 10 cm, P 4 - root pruned at 15 cm and P 5 - root pruned at 20 cm) with three replications and each treatment consisted of 10 plants. Results of this study showed that survival percent, sprout length, leaf area, collar diameter, root diameter, root length and number of lateral roots were significantly affected by the root pruning treatments. However, no-significance differences of poplar clones were observed on survival percent, sprout length, root length and number of lateral roots. The roots pruned at 5 cm gave the best result for growth and development of poplar clones whereas the roots pruned at 20 cm length showed the lowest values. Keywords Populus deltoids, Root pruning, Survival percentage, Vegetative growth. Accepted: 15 March 2017 Available Online: 10 April 2017 Article Info