Propagation of ex vitro adapted blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) plants using green cuttings

Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya street, 49, Moscow, 127434, Russia

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Abstract

This article presents the results of developing methods for pruning and accelerated ex vitro propagation of blue honeysuckle plants of the 'Giant's Heart' variety using green cuttings in greenhouse conditions. The studies were conducted on the honeysuckle 'Giant's Heart' variety. After 40 days of ex vitro adaptation, the plants were transplanted into 1.0 L pots for further growth. To shape the plants, stimulate buds awakening and the number of shoots, immediately after transplantation, the above-ground system was pruned, leaving 1, 2 and 3 nodes above the surface of the substrate, control without pruning. After shoot growth had been achieved for 40 days, the first wave of green cuttings was taken, considering the number of green cuttings. Then, after shoot growth had resumed on the 80th day of growth, a second wave of green cuttings was taken. Green cuttings were planted for rooting in a greenhouse with a fogging system, and before planting, the basal parts were treated with an alcohol solution 1 mg/mL of IBA. Pruning ex vitro adapted blue honeysuckle plants of the 'Giant's Heart' variety, leaving 2 and 3 nodes above the substrate surface, was shown to be effective, increasing the number of shoots by 1.8-times. When pruning, it is advisable to use ex vitro green cuttings with basal treatment of the green cuttings with an alcohol solution containing 1 gL^-1 ofIBA, which increases the yield of rooted plants by 6.8-10.9-times.