INFLUENCE OF ENDOGENOUS PHENOLS ON ROOTABILITY OF CHAMAELAUCIUM-UNCINATUM SCHAUER STEM CUTTINGS

Rooting trials were conducted with hardwood and softwood Chamaelaucium uncinatum Schauer cuttings; softwood cuttings showed good rootability , whilst hardwood cuttings did not root. A relationship between phenol composition of cuttings and rooting ability was demonstrated. Softwoo d cuttings are rich in flavonoids, while simple phenols prevailed in t he hardwood tissues, and in particular a cinnamic acid derivative was present in high concentration. The effect of each identified phenol on adventive rhizogenesis was tested by the mung bean test: a promotive activity was evidenced for some flavonoids present in the softwood tis sues (isoorientin, orientin and luteolin), while the cinnamic acid der ivative, found exclusively in the hardwood tissues, was a strong rooti ng inhibitor.