Influence of Maturity of Stem cuttings and Plant Growth Regulators in Propagation of Orange Jasmine (Murraya paniculata L. Jack)

Murraya paniculata (orange jasmine), is a versatile evergreen shrub belonging to family Rutaceae. It is widely used as cut foliage in floral arrangements and bouquet owing to its visual appeal. The current research was undertaken to determine the most efficient hormonal concentration for rooting of softwood and semi hardwood stem cuttings of M. paniculata at Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala, during the rainy season (July 2024). Sprouting (70 %), shoot length (6.44 cm), rooting (68.89 %), number of roots (13), root length (20.50 cm), and fresh weight of roots (1.07 g) were highest in softwood cuttings treated with IBA (1000 ppm). Early sprouting (8.67 days) was observed in softwood cuttings treated with IBA (2000 ppm). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were lowest in softwood cuttings treated with IBA (1000 ppm) at 30 (phenol: 4.13 mg/g FW, flavonoid: 2.16 mg/g FW) and 45 (phenol: 3.45 mg/g FW, flavonoid: 1.73 mg/g FW) days after planting, while higher levels of phenols and flavonoids were observed in other treatments. Histological analysis showed that the adventitious roots of orange jasmine developed from cambial and xylem parenchyma cells, growing outward through the phloem, sclerenchyma, cortex, and epidermis, eventually emerging on the outer surface of the cutting at 45 days after planting. Softwood cuttings treated with 1000 ppm IBA proved to be the most effective for propagating M. paniculata.