Propagation of Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) plants

In this paper, research on vegetative propagation of Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) plants is reported and summarised. An efficient system for propagation of Japanese quince based on softwood cuttings was developed. For this purpose, 20 cm long top cuttings, with the base of the cuttings soaked in 30 mg/l IBA for 18 hours, were used. Although hardwood cuttings seemed less useful for propagation of chaenomeles plants, a high rooting percentage was obtained using 20 cm long base cuttings, soaked in 100 mg/l IBA for 24 hours. Procedures for micropropagation were improved and micropropagation was shown to be a very efficient method for propagation of Japanese quince, with an average proliferation rate of around 3–4 and a rooting percentage of over 90%. For the proliferation phase a medium consisting of complete MS medium with macronutrients reduced to 3/4, iron added as NaFeEDTA, 1.0 g/l BA as growth regulator and 35 g/l sucrose as a source of carbohydrates, was useful in large scale commercial propagation. For rooting of microshoots, a shoot elongation phase of two weeks and a soaking of microshoots in 250 mg/l IBA before planting seemed important. It was shown that the ability to form roots was genotype dependent. Rooting potential should therefore be evaluated during plant breeding and selection