Studies on the leaf cutting of Begonia. I

Budding and rooting of leaf cuttings treated with kinetin, TIBA and their combination have been examined using four species of Begonia. Leaf cuttings with the petiole were used in B. erythrophylla and B. evansiana, while square explants of the leaf in B. rex and an unknown species of Begonia.There were differences in response to kinetin and TIBA among the species. TIBA inhibited root formation in each species, while kinetin inhibited it in three species. B. erythrophylla, however, showed no response to kinetin. In B. erythrophylla, bud formation was promoted by TIBA treatment. On the contrary, the other three species were not affected by TIBA. However, by its higher doses there was an inhibition in their bud formation. Kinetin caused bud formation in the three species, while it did not affect that of B. erythrophylla. A combination of kinetin and TIBA was able to form buds in all the species, and showed more promotive effect than kinetin or TIBA alone.