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Bulletin of Botanical Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5): 938-947.doi: 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2026.05.014

• Original Paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Substrate Irrigation with Growth Retardants on Rooting of Cerasus humilis Softwood Cuttings

Xiaoyan WANG, Haonan WANG, Qianqian HE, Luting JIA, Shuai ZHANG, Pengfei WANG()   

  1. College of Horticulture,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801
  • Received:2026-04-17 Online:2026-08-28 Published:2026-10-10
  • Contact: Pengfei WANG E-mail:pengfeiwang2004@163.com

Abstract:

To investigate the mechanism of different growth retardants applied through substrate drenching in regulating the rooting of Cerasus humilis softwood cuttings, semi-lignified shoots of C. humilis ‘Nongda No.6’ were used as cuttings in this study. Suitable concentrations and application timings of plant growth regulators were screened, and the dynamic changes of nutrients and endogenous hormones during the rooting process were analyzed under an optimal treatment. The results demonstrated that substrate drenching with different concentrations of paclobutrazol(PP333) and uniconazole(S3307) both promoted rooting. Among them, the treatment with 100 mg⋅L-1 PP333 yielded the highest rooting rate(60.83%), which was significantly higher than that of the control. Moreover, the treatment with 50 mg⋅L-1 S3307 exhibited the optimal comprehensive performance in terms of rooting rate, cutting survival, and root system development, indicating its suitability for the softwood cutting propagation of C. humilis. When 50 mg⋅L-1 S3307 was applied at 7, 14, and 21 days after cutting, the highest rooting rate (57.22%) was observed in 14-d treatment (S-14 d). During the rooting process, the S-14 d treatment significantly enhanced the accumulation of soluble sugars, starch, and soluble proteins in the stem segments of cuttings, resulting in a higher carbon-to-nitrogen ratio that accelerated rooting speed and enhanced root quality. Meanwhile, the S-14 d treatment increased the contents of indole-3-acetic acid(IAA) and zeatin (ZT), inhibited the accumulation of gibberellic acid(GA3) and abscisic acid(ABA), which optimized the hormone balance to facilitate cutting rooting. In conclusion, substrate drenching with 50 mg⋅L-1 S3307 at 14 days after cutting effectively promoted the rooting of C. humilis softwood cuttings by regulating nutrient metabolism and endogenous hormone levels.

Key words: Cerasus humilis, softwood cutting, growth retardants, rooting, nutrients, endogenous hormones

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