The Effect of Age and Basal-cut Shapes of Cutting on Rooting of Larix leptolepis

Age effect of the stock plants and the effect of the basal-cut shapes in cuttings of L.leptolepis on rooting ability were studied by using softwood cutting in the absence of growth hormones.Rooting rate was particular high (96.9%) for cuttings taken from 1.5-year-old stock plants.Better rooting rate were obtained when cuttings taken from 4.5 to 8.5 years old stock plants (72.1%~78.1%).Average number of root per cutting decreased significantly for cuttings taken from 8.5 years old stock plants when comparing with 1.5~4.5 year old plants.Rooting rate was negatively related with the age of stock plants (r=-0.9652*) and one-side rooting rate,however,was positive related with the age (r=0.999 3**) .Numder of roots per rooting cutting and maximum root length on average were not related with the age of stock plants.There was obvious difference in one-side rooting rate between different shapes of basal cut (F=12.336 2**),but no difference could be found for rooting rate.Adventitious roots developed only at the end (which has not been cut) of cuttings for one-side cut and V-shaped cut.Flat-cut at the base of cuttings reduced the one-side rooting rate which is helpful to improve the root quality of the rooting cuttings.