| Sumario: | The authors present the results of several experiments comparing the effect of different formulations of root-inducing substances on cacao cuttings. Among the treatments were two commercial products: Merk's "Hormodin No. 2" and May and Baker's "Seradix B No. 3". It was found that the best stimulants for rooting of the cuttings was indole-butyric acid at 0,7 or 0,8 percentage in 60 percentage alcohol or talc. The addition of the fungicides Phygon XL or SR-406 in powder form to the talc formulation at the rate of 1:3 significantly increased the percentage of rooting. The commercial product "Hormodin" as well as the mixtures of indole-butyric acid and naphtaleneacetic recommended by others have proven to be much inferior to straight indole-butyric at 0,6-0,8 percentage. The authors recommend as the best formulation the powder mixtures, 3:1, of talc and Phygon XL or talc and SR-406 with 0,7 or 0,8 percentage of indole-butyric acid. The method of preparing this formulation is described.
|