VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF INDIAN JUJUBE (Ziziphus mauritiana, LAMK) GROWN IN ISMAILIA REGION

This study aimed to evaluate and optimize effective vegetative propagation methods for Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana, Lamk) cultivated in the Ismailia region of Egypt. The research focused on two main objectives: (1) assessing the rooting efficiency of softwood cuttings subjected to various concentrations of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to identify the most effective concentration for promoting root development, and (2) identifying the optimal timing for successful eye budding and pen grafting techniques. Field experiments were carried out during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. The results demonstrated that treating softwood cuttings with 3000 ppm IBA significantly improved the rooting percentage, indicating it as the most effective concentration. Furthermore, pen grafting conducted in March and eye budding performed in August recorded the highest success rates among all tested periods. These findings provide valuable recommendations for nurseries and growers aiming to enhance the propagation efficiency of Indian jujube under arid and semi-arid conditions. The adoption of these optimized techniques could contribute to the sustainable expansion of Indian jujube cultivation in challenging climates.