ADVENTITIOUS ROOTING OF NATIVE ERICA MANIPULIFLORA SALISB., A MEDITERRANEAN ORNAMENTAL SHRUB

The use of Erica manipuliflora, a decorative native ornamental species, is limited in landscaping due to insufficient plantlet production in nurseries. The aim of study was to determine the most effective and practical adventitious rooting (AR) protocol for successful vegetative production of E. manipuliflora. Two experiments (Expt.) were established in November and June to reveal the effects of different substances [perlit and perlit: sphagnum peat (1: 1 v/v) in Expt. I and peat, peat: sand (1:1), cocopeat: sand (5:1) and perlite in Expt. II] and exogenous auxins including liquid (in Expt. I) and powdered (in Expt. II) formulations of IBA, NAA or combination of both. The results indicated E. manipuliflora cuttings taken in June and cultured in cocopeat: sand (5:1) mixture without any auxin treatment presented the highest survival (84%) and rooting (76%) performance. In addition, exogenous auxin usage is not essential for AR of E. manipuliflora cuttings. It can be used for the cuttings inserted in cocopeat-free media. But it exhibited reducing effect on rooting in cocopeat-based medium. The use of mycorrhizal inoculation and also minicuttings in eco friendly cocopeat-based media in future studies might increase the efficiency of E. manipuliflora AR protocol.