INDO-3-ACETIC ACID (IAA) AND CYTOKININ-LIKE ACTIVITY IN MUNICIPAL EXCESS ACTIVATED SEWAGE-SLUDGE - EFFECT ON ROOTING OF MUNG BEAN (VIGNA-RADIATA (L) WILCZ) CUTTINGS

A common use for land treatment of municipal sewage sludges is their a pplication in agriculture. Sludges are well known to contain high leve ls of organic and inorganic materials but can also affect plant growth by supplying growth hormones. We tested the hormonal effect of sewage sludge from the Municipal Sewage Sludge Management Center in Herzliyy a, Israel, on rooting of mung bean cuttings. Sewage sludge induces the formation of adventitious roots on mung bean cuttings, in a way simil ar to the promotion by IBA, the most common treatment for root initiat ion. Moreover, sewage sludge quadrupled the root elongation rates as c ompared with the effect of IBA and it seems that at least Herzelia sou rce of municipal sewage sludge comprises a very promotive growth mediu m for root development. Significant amount of IAA was identified in se wage sludge by GC-MS. The sludge exhibits also cytokinin-like activity . The data of this study and particularly the effect of the sludge on the development of the adventitious roots in mung bean cuttings sugges t that in addition to the auxin influence of sewage sludge some other factors are involved.