Effective Storage Conditions for Subsequent Growth Enhancement of Ficus Carica L. Cuttings

Abstract

For fig plants propagation in Japan, cultural environments require harvested branches as primary cuttings to be stored from February until late March or early April to avoid low temperature and moisture in the ground. Although it has been known that environmental conditions during the storage period of cuttings affect subsequent growth of seedlings after planting secondary cuttings to the field, the relationship between the storage conditions and the growth is still unclear. Thus in the present study, the effects of different storage conditions and planting date of hardwood cutting on the growth of fig (Ficus carica L. cv. Masui Dauphin) seedlings were investigated. Storage conditions were controlled in the environmentally controlled chamber. The results indicated that longer the storage period in the chamber increased shoot dry weight and number, length and dry weight of root. The cuttings moved from field condition to environmentally controlled chamber within two weeks after the harvest had the highest values in the number of root, root dry weight and shoot length in both planting dates.