Enhancing Kiwi Hardwood Cutting Propagation Success: A Comparative Study of Horticultural Media Grades
Abstract
Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa Lindl.) is a recently domesticated fruit crop in the world. Presently, India produces around 16000.62 MT of Kiwifruit in an area of more than 4000 Ha. To harness the horticultural potential of hill states, certified and reliable planting materials are required. The present study was conducted to standardize kiwi hardwood cutting propagation by using different media grades. Fourteen treatments were designed using cocopeat, vermiculite, perlite, soil, FYM, and sand. Hardwood cuttings (20-25cm, 5-8 mm girth) of 'Abbott' cultivar were treated with IBA (3000ppm) for 15 seconds and planted in the media under polyhouse conditions. Results indicated that media composition significantly influenced cutting performance. Considering both survival and growth parameters, the media ratio 2 cocopeat: 1 soil: 1 sand: 1 FYM was identified as the best overall treatment, producing the highest values for average shoot length (72.66 cm), average shoot girth (6.29 mm), average root length (34.33 cm), and average root volume (48.33 cc), with a survival rate of 33.33%. Other media, such as pure vermiculite or cocopeat, achieved very high survival (up to 100%) but resulted in less vigorous plant growth. This study provides practical media options for propagators based on whether the priority is maximizing plant survival or achieving superior vegetative growth.
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Introduction
Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa), belonging to the family Actinidiaceae, is one of the newest fruit crops gaining international commercial importance. In India, it has bright prospects in the north-western and north-eastern hill regions as an important future commercial and diversified horticultural crop. The expansion of the kiwifruit industry has led to an increasing demand for propagating material. The production of planting material through low-cost methods is vital for agripreneurship. Kiwifruit can be propagated by seeds and vegetative means like cuttings, grafting, and budding. Using hardwood cuttings is a rapid and suitable method for multiplication. However, kiwi cuttings are often difficult to root, and their success depends on the rooting medium and the use of plant growth regulators like Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). While the effect of IBA is well-studied, systematic evaluation of different growth media components—especially locally available, low-cost materials—for kiwi propagation under Indian conditions is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to standardize and enhance the propagation of kiwi hardwood cuttings by evaluating the effect of various single and blended growth media on survival and subsequent plant growth.
Conclusion
The expansion of the kiwifruit industry requires efficient propagation protocols. This study concludes that the growth medium significantly impacts the success of kiwi hardwood cutting propagation. For nursery entrepreneurs aiming to produce vigorous, well-developed plants, the media ratio 2 cocopeat: 1 soil: 1 sand: 1 FYM is recommended. For those prioritizing the maximization of plant establishment numbers, pure vermiculite or pure cocopeat are highly effective. These findings provide scientifically supported, low-cost options utilizing readily available materials, contributing to the development of sustainable kiwifruit nursery entrepreneurship in India'shill regions. Further research on the economic feasibility and long-term field performance of plants raised in these media is suggested CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest.
