Effect of auxins on stem cutting propagation of three pomegranate genotypes and the relationship of endogenous phenolic compounds with root induction

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Horticulture, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.

Abstract

Objective: The commercial propagation of pomegranates often relies on hardwood stem cuttings taken during the dormant season, and a link has been observed between phenolic compounds in donor plants and the success of adventitious rooting. This study aimed to investigate the effects of seasons, auxin, and genetic variation on pomegranate propagation, as well as the relationship between endogenous phenolic compounds and root induction.
Methods: In this study, the seasonal variation of phenolic compounds in the shoot skins of three pomegranate genotypes: wild (Punica granatum cv. spinosa) and two local cultivars (Malas Mumtaz and Shirin Behshahr) was measured. Samples were collected at the end of each season and analyzed for phenolic compounds (gallic acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin) using HPLC, alongside total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity through spectrophotometric methods. Then, in mid-February, hardwood cuttings procured from the same mother plants were taken, treated with auxin or left untreated, and planted in a sand substrate. Rooting traits were measured, and the relationship of phenolic compounds with rooting traits was assessed.
Results: In all seasons, the highest concentration of flavonoids and caffeic acid belonged to Shirin Behshahr and Malas Mumtaz pomegranate cultivars, respectively. Also, wild pomegranate showed the highest antioxidant capacity (DPPH) on average of four seasons, followed by Shirin Behshahr. The shoots collected during the winter season mainly had lower levels of caffeic acid and the lowest DPPH, but the summer season had the highest antioxidant capacity. Considering the auxin experiment, under no auxin, the Malas Mumtaz variety exhibited significantly higher rooting percentage (93.33%) than Shirin Behshahr and the wild genotype (56.67% and 50%, respectively). Although the auxin treatment at 2000 mg/L had a positive effect on all genotypes (100%, 96.67%, and 86.67% rooting for the wild genotype, Malas Mumtaz, and Shirin Behshahr, respectively), the effect was not significant for the Malas Mumtaz variety because it already had a high rooting percentage (93.33%). The Malas Mumtaz variety also exhibited a higher number of shoots (4.32) than the other two genotypes (4.00 and 3.48 for the wild genotype and the Shirin Behshahr variety, respectively) on average across two auxin conditions. Backward multiple regression showed that rooting percentage was related to quercetin and DPPH. For the mean root length and the longest root length, the remaining variables in the models were DPPH, phenols, and flavonoids. For the number of shoots, the flavonoids, DPPH, quercetin, and gallic acid showed a significant relationship with this trait. DPPH was present in all models with a negative partial regression coefficient. However, a positive relationship of quercetin with rooting percentage and number of shoots was observed.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that adventitious rooting in pomegranate hardwood cuttings is influenced by seasonal changes of phenolic compounds in the mother plant, genotype, and the application of auxin. The Malas Mumtaz variety demonstrated a high genetic potential for rooting and showed satisfactory rooting, even in the absence of exogenous auxin treatment. Endogenous quercetin and DPPH showed a relationship with the rooting percentage and number of shoots. This finding proved the role of quercetin as a rooting enhancer in pomegranate cuttings.
 

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References

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Journal of Plant Physiology and Breeding
Volume 15, Issue 1
June 2025
Pages 37-52

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