Variations in free polyamines and their effect on adventitious rooting of peach cuttings

Propagation of peach frequently fails due to necrosis of the cuttings. To improve the rooting yield, and the survival of peach cuttings, events that accompany the rooting process were studied. Variations in the availability of carbohydrate and the amount of endogenous free polyamines, as markers of organogenesis, were studied in cuttings collected over a 4-month period, from September - December 1998 in a field reserved for germplasm collection. During October, the conditions appeared to be most favourable for rooting and survival. Free polyamine levels (mainly putrescine) were evaluated in stock plants over the same period. The increased level of putrescine in cuttings, accompanied by a slight increase in spermine, continued during the rooting period until transplanting. After 60 d of bottom heat, cuttings that developed into plants contained increased levels of free putrescine at the moment of transplanting.