NAA is More Effective Than IBA for Rooting Stem Cuttings of Two Nyssa spp.

We conducted two experiments to determine whether Nyssa aquatica and Nyssa ogeche could be propagated from softwood cuttings. In the first experiment, two commercial auxin formulations were used, each at two concentrations. In the second study, we compared root formation among cuttings treated with 3000-ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in liquid or talc, 3000-ppm 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in liquid, and a combination of 1500-ppm IBA and 1500-ppm NAA in liquid. Cuttings were taken from terminal and subterminal positions on juvenile stock plants and held under intermittent mist for six weeks. More terminal cuttings rooted than did subterminal cuttings. A liquid formulation of NAA or NAA and IBA was more effective than IBA at promoting root formation for both species. Up to 93% of cuttings rooted when treated with a solution containing NAA and IBA. Cuttings of N. aquatica treated with NAA in solution produced up to eight times more roots than cuttings treated with no auxin or IBA. For both species, three times more cuttings rooted when treated with IBA in liquid compared to IBA in powder. Results indicate N. aquatica and N. ogeche can be propagated from softwood cuttings, and rooting is enhanced by treating terminal cuttings with NAA in solution.