HYDROPONIC SYSTEM FOR MASS PROPAGATION OF Bougainvillea x buttiana "MRS BUTT".

Cuttings of Bougainvillea x buttiana "Mrs Butt" were cultured in peat moss [after treating with 1000 ppm indolebutric acid (IBA) or without] or hydroponic units contained: water, quarter Hoagland strength, half Hoagland strength, full Hoagland strength, 2.5 ppm, 5 ppm or 20 ppm IBA solutions. Results showed that treating cuttings with IBA at 1000 ppm before culturing was more effective than culturing without treating. Among the different hydroponic solution treatments, IBA solution at medium (5 ppm) or high concentration (10 ppm) had the best results, since they produced the highest values of rooting percentage, number of roots/cutting, number of shoots/cutting, shoot length, number of leaves/shoot and survival percentage. Also, using of 10 ppm IBA solution resulted in initiating the first root more rapidly than all other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]