The Relationship Between Ethephon and Auxin on Adventitious Root Initiation in Cuttings of Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilcz1

Abstract

Abstract Adventitious root initiation decreased in ‘Berken’ mung bean cuttings treated with ≥ 10 −4 m (2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid (ethephon). Ethephon at 10 −3 but not 10 −5 m reduced root length and caused a redistribution of roots along the hypocotyl. The application of ethephon in combination with indoleacetic acid (IAA), indolebutyric acid (IBA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) reduced root initiation. An initial treatment of ethephon followed by NAA, or NAA followed by ethephon, inhibited root initiation to the same degree. Ethephon—whether applied at the time of cutting preparation or up to 12 hours later—inhibited root initiation to the same extent.