Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

stages in micropropagation. In rose, there are several reports which indicate rapid
regeneration and multiplication through organogenesis or somatic embryogenesis.
Rose Cuttings:
Take cuttings from stems that have flowered, just after the petals have fallen, but
before new growth begins from the leaf buds. Cuttings should contain about four to six
nodes (leaf buds). Trim about 1.25 cm above the top node and the same below the bottom
node. Remove leaves from the lower half of each cutting. Let there be two or three leaves
at the top of the cuttings as such cuttings tend to root more successfully. Using a razorsharp
blade to make two or three very shallow vertical cuts on the lower end of each
cutting. Cut only through the bark, not into the wood. Rooting hormone should be applied
by dipping the end of the cutting into water, then into the powder. The excess powder
must be removed by shaking off the excess. Make holes in the medium with a pencil.
Each hole should be large enough to insert a cutting without scraping off the rooting
hormone and deep enough to insert it about half its length. Firm the medium around the
cutting.
Mass Scale Production of Gladiolus:
Cormel Production:
Gladiolus corms are propagated from cormels which grow in clusters on out growths
between mother and daughter corms. Mostly the large size of cormels is used for planting
stock production. Cormel stocks should be chosen carefully to prevent the spread of
disease into developing corms. The corms should be preferably from healthy and disease
free block.
The cormels should be treated in hot water (53-55 0 Celsius) for 30 minutes to
eradicate latent fungus, insects and nematodes. Two days prior to treatment, cormel
should be covered with warm water (32 0 C) to soften the husk. The treated cormels should
be air-dried in thin layers in sterilized trays and then placed in cold storage at 2-4 0 Celsius
until planted. Dormancy of large cormels is usually broken within four months of
treatment. Root bud swellings indicate that cormels are ready to be planted. It is a good
practice to soak cormels in water for 2 days just prior to planting to ensure uniform
sprouting.
The moist cormels are planted in single row in 10-13 cm wide furrows spaced 60-75
cm apart. The small corms are dug up with a modified potato digger. Yield of around 100
corms larger than 1.3 cm diameter can be harvested per meter of row when large cormels
are used. Corms from 1.3 to 2.5 cm diameter are called “planting stock” and are used for
the production of flowering size corms.
Planting Stock Production
Planting stock treatment is similar to the treatment of cormels except the
temperature of the fungicide suspension is decreased to about 43 0 C and the time of
submergence is limited to 15 minutes. Small corms less than 2.5 cm diameter are planted
in one or two rows per bed at a depth of 6-8 cm. 50-80 corms are planted per meter of
row, depending upon the size of corms. The soil should contained adequate moisture and
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