Response of Fuchsia hybrida cuttings to flurprimidol and naphthaleneacetic acid application

Auxins are the only compounds used in commercial plant propagation to stimulate rooting, although efforts have been made to find other efficient compounds. Another group of rooting promoters could be plant growth retardants (PGRs) which act as inhibitors of gibberellin synthesis. The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of flurprimidol and naphthalene-1-acetic acid (NAA) applied by quick-dip method on rooting and development of Fuchsia hybrida 'Swingtime' cuttings and their subsequent growth. Anatomical analysis of the rooting process was also done. Flurprimidol and NAA did not influence the percentage of rooted fuchsia cuttings but increased the number of adventitious roots. Both compounds were involved in earlier formation of root primordia. Flurprimidol and NAA, used simultaneously or separately, increased the number and length of axillary shoots of fuchsia cuttings. The effect of flurprimidol on the number of roots and shoots was stronger than that of NAA, but diminished after transplanting the rooted cuttings. The influence of flurprimidol on axillary shoot length was weaker as its concentration increased.