RESPONSE OF LEMON DROP MANGOSTEEN (Garcinia intermedia) CUTTINGS AT VARYING PHYSIOLOGICAL AGES TO PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS

Abstract

This study determined the response of Lemon Drop Mangosteen(LDM) cuttings treated with plant growth regulators (PGR). A factorial experiment was conducted to identify the suitable physiological age (semi-hardwood, softwood) and PGR for the cuttings. Prameters measured includes callus formation perfomance which was qualitatively assed using a 0-4 scale (4 for the thick callus and 0-3 for no or minimal callus), shoot and leaf development. The PGR applied were Alpha Naphthalene Acetic Acid (ANAA), Indole-3-butyric Acid (IBA), Aloe vera extract(AVLE), banana peel extract(BPE), coconut water, and distilled water as the control.The findings revealed that for shoot development, the the control and coconut water gained the highest shoot emergence with the significant mean of 9.00 and 8.67, and 6.94 and 6.19 for average shoot length, respectively. Leaf emergence shows no significant differences among the treatment but the control and AVLE has the highest number of leaf emerged with both mean of 6.50. Callus formation had been considered in place of root development. LDM treated with IBA and BPE extract had the highest callus formation with both mean of 8.00. For the callus formation scoring, result shows that IBA has the highest score mean of  2.40 followed by coconut water of 2.60. and with the mean of 1.99, semi-hardwood treated with IBA cutting obtained the thickest calli. The return in expenses shows that BPE is the most economical among all the treatment. In conclusion, the treating of semi-hardwood cutting with IBA or coconut water to promote callus formation that will lead to rooting. Further, this study will provide technical framework necessary to introduce lemon drop mangosteen propagation in the locality.