EFFECT OF AUXINS ON ADVENTITIOUS ROOTING FROM HARDWOOD CUTTINGS OF HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES UNDER LADAKH HIMALAYAS JANIFER RAJ X., BASANT BALLABH, M. PAL MURUGAN, PRIYANKA DHAR, AMOL B. TAYADE, ASHISH R. WARGHAT, O.P. CHAURASIA AND R.B. SRIVASTAVA Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), C/O 56 APO, Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir ABSTRACT The rooting response of hardwood cuttings of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) treated with auxins was studied during 2008-2009 to standardize the vegetative propagation. The effect of rooting hormones was observed for number of shoots, and roots, maximum length of primary root and rooting percentage. The results indicated that the dip application of 300 ppm IBA for 48 hours was optimum for treating the hardwood cuttings of Hippophae rhamnoides taken in March and will be beneficial for its successful propagation and cultivation under Ladakh Himalaya conditions. Key words : Plant Growth regulators, Hardwood cuttings, Vegetative propagation, Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides). Introduction species in marginal soils of Ladakh, the current study explores the rooting potential in H. rhamnoides L. under Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Eleagnaceae), a various auxin treatments for shoot and root traits.viz. (1) thorny, deciduous perennial shrub popularly known as Number of shoots per sprouted cutting (2) Number of 'Seabuckthorn' or 'Tsestalulu' is uniquely capable of cuttings that showed rooting (3) Maximum length of growing well under extreme environmental conditions 0 primary root and (4) rooting percentage of cuttings in such as high altitude, extreme temperature from - 43 C to 0 cold arid conditions of Ladakh Himalayas. + 40 C and water deficit. In India its distribution is Material and Methods restricted to cold arid regions of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand and some areas of Sikkim. The The field experiment was conducted in 2008-2009 orange yellow acidic fruits are rich in vitamins and at the Forest Nursery, Defence Institute of High Altitude o nutrients and make an attractive source of nutrition. Research (DIHAR), Leh, Ladakh which lies between 31 0 0 0 Besides nutritional value, it has multipurpose benefits 44'57" -32 59'57" N latitude and 76 46'29" - 78 41' E such as seed and pulp oil with high cosmetic value, longitude. The rooting was evaluated on hardwood fodder, firewood and soil binding and nutrient enhancing cuttings treated with varying concentrations of natural properties. It is recommended as a biofence around and synthetic auxins, viz., indole-3- acetic acid (IAA) and houses and cultivated lands for greening of hilly tracts indole 3- butyric acid (IBA). A study was also performed (Chaurasia and Singh, 1996). It also plays an important to see the synergistic effect of dipping duration of role in rural economy by generating income through the cuttings in phytohormones for adventitious root selling of collected berries as well as downstream production. Mature stem cuttings from two year old processing. H. rhamnoides is a diocious species which superior plants were collected in the month of March. could be propagated through seeds, suckers and The leaves and shoot apices were excised and uniform cuttings. Sexual method of propagation through seeds leafless hardwood cuttings (15-20 cm length and 0.5-1 has the limitation that the seedlings are not true to type cm diameter) comprising of 5-6 nodes were prepared. and there are chances that seeds may give rise to male The cuttings were dipped in various auxins and treated at plants. On contrary, the asexual mode of propagation is the basal end. The cuttings received distilled water successful by hard wood cuttings where the propagules (control) or treatments of IAA and IBA individually at always resembles the mother plant and this method has different concentrations of 100, 200 and 300 ppm to been recommended for commercial propagation. The determine the rooting capacity. Different combinations cuttings root easily but the survival percentage and of the above rooting hormones and dipping durations of establishment varies due to the extreme weather 24, 48 and 72 hr were tried to see the possible effects of conditions. Considering the importance of vegetative the dipping duration promoting the rooting ability of the propagation and quick rooting and establishment of this stem cuttings. The two auxin treatments and four Dip application in 300 ppm IBA for 48 hrs gave best root, shoot results in hardwood cuttings of Hippophae rhamnoides. Indian Forester, 139 (3) : 228-231, 2013 ISSN 0019-4816