EFFECT OF PLANT EXTRACTS ON ROOT AND SHOOT DEVELOPMENT OF FIG (FICUS CARICA) CUTTINGS IN CV. POONA

Ficus carica L. (Fig), a prominent subtropical fruit species, exhibits a strong affinity for arid and semiarid environments.Its nutritional benefits have increased the demand for high-quality, disease-free planting material for orchards.This study investigated the impact of diverse cultivation conditions and treatments on the propagation of fig cuttings, a conventional horticultural practice.While traditional plant growth regulators (PGRs) have proven effective, their associated health and environmental risks necessitate the exploration of safer alternatives.In this context, natural extracts emerge as a viable eco-friendly option for enhancing plant growth and overall productivity.Hardwood cuttings from one-year-old branches of the cultivar Poona were collected in September 2023 and underwent a series of treatments involving plant extracts.Specifically, extracts from Aloe vera and Ficus benghalensis aerial roots were evaluated at concentrations of 20%, 30%, and 50%, both individually and in combination.These treatments were compared to the application of 3000 ppm of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), conducted in both shade house and polyhouse settings.Cuttings treated with IBA 3000 ppm (T 17 ) under shade house conditions (G 1 T 17 ) showed the best results for the minimum days for first sprouting (13.47), maximum per cent of sprouting (76.66),Number of leaves per cutting (13.40), leaf area (244.42 cm 2 ), shoot length (16.44 cm) at 90 days after planting, shoot fresh and dry weight (51.28 and 24.21 g) and shooting percentage (83.33%),primary, secondary and total number of roots per cutting (15.72, 24.11 and 43.33), length of longest root (28.41 cm), root fresh and dry weight (6.25 and 2.83 g), rooting percentage (80%) and maximum survival percentage (75.00%)was recorded in cuttings treated with IBA 3000 ppm (T 17 ) under shade house condition followed by treatment T 15 (Aloe barbadensis 50% + Ficus benghalensis aerial root extract 50%).Experimental results indicated that fig cuttings placed in the shade house and treated with IBA 3000 ppm (T 17 ) demonstrated the most significant shoot growth metrics.T 15 , comprising a 50% concentration of Aloe barbadensis and 50% Ficus benghalensis aerial root extract, closely followed.Regarding root development, IBA at 3000 ppm yielded superior outcomes, producing results comparable to T15 (Aloe barbadensis 50% + Ficus benghalensis aerial root extract 50%).