ETIOLATION OF STOCK PLANTS AFFECTS ADVENTITIOUS ROOT-FORMATION AND HORMONE CONTENT OF PEA STEM CUTTINGS

Stock pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) were etiolated fully or partially at the third internode that acted as the cutting base. The etiolation started the fifth day after sowing and lasted till cutting preparation . Cuttings derived from partially etiolated plants rooted more than no n-etiolated ones while fully etiolated ones rooted more only after tre atment with 1 % sucrose solution for 4 days. Endogenous IAA in the bas e of etiolated cuttings was higher during the first 24 h after cutting preparation than in the control. Z/ZR did not show significant differ ences while iAde/iAdo was higher in the control. Ethylene was increase d 24 h after cutting preparation and the increase was greater from par tially etiolated cuttings. The results showed that besides IAA and cyt okinins, which played a role in the rooting of cuttings, sucrose influ enced rooting in the case of fully etiolated stock plants.