CLONAL MULTIPLICATION OF GUAVA THROUGH SOFTWOOD CUTTINGS UNDER MIST CONDITIONS

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a luscious and important tropical fruit crop. The objective of the study was to develop vegetative propagation system to avoid clonal degradation in guava fruit plants. Softwood cuttings from five year old gola accession were prepared from the shoot tops of current season growth, measuring 12 cm in length and carrying 2 to 4 nodes. IBA and NAA (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8g/100g talcum powder) were selected to treat cuttings for root induction. Cuttings were planted under mist conditions by maintaining temperature at 25˚C and 85% relative humidity for 25 days. Maximum survival percentage (92.17%) of plants at transplanting was noted with 0.4g concentration followed by 0.2g (85.50%). In general IBA 0.4g concentration performed better as compared to NAA for all parameters studied. This study revealed the potential of clonal propagation of guava through softwood cuttings treated with auxins.