Hydrogen peroxide and indole-3-butyric acid effects on root induction and development in cuttings of Olea europaea L. (cv. Frantoio and Gentile di Larino)

Semi-hardwood cuttings of ‘Frantoio’(high rooting ability) and ‘Gentile di Larino’(low rooting ability) cultivars were obtained from one-year-old olive shoots sampled in mid-August. Semi-hardwood cuttings w e re dipped in H2O2 (0% control and 3.5% w/v) and IBA (2000 and 4000 ppm) solutions before rooting in greenhouse equipped with an automatic mist system. After 35 days, 50% of semi-hardwood cuttings rooted in ‘Frantoio’, while in ‘Gentile di Larino’ the rooting percentage did not exceed 20%; not significant differences between rooting treatments were observed in ‘Frantoio’, while in ‘Gentile di Larino’ the rooting effects were different between treatments. The rooting process was well established by the 57th day in ‘Frantoio’and at the end of experiments (88th day) significant differences were observed between H2O2-treated and untreated semihardwood cuttings in both cultivars.