Skatole as a Root Forming Substance

Abstract

THE activity of skatole as a growth-promoting substance has been noted by Glover¹. We have carried out experiments which show that skatole accelerates root formation in cuttings. Cuttings of Leptospermum sooparium and of Ficus repens were treated with an aqueous solution of skatole in the manner described by Hitchcock and Zimmerman², and the cuttings planted in a mixture of coco-nut fibre and sand in a propagator. The treatment accelerated root production. With Leptospermum scoparium cuttings, treatment for six hours with skatole solution of a concentration of 20 mgm. per 100 c.c. on March 19 gave 60 per cent of the cuttings well rooted in 20 days. A control set showed 30 per cent only of the cuttings to be slightly rooted. With Ficus repens, a more marked response was obtained. Cuttings planted on April 22 and examined after 19 days showed in the control set 10 per cent rooted with an average of 0.3 roots per cutting and an average length of root per cutting of 1·6 mm. Of cuttings treated for 3 hours with a skatole solution of a concentration of 20 mgm. per 100 c.c., 90 per cent were rooted with an average of 4·2 roots per cutting and an average length of root per cutting of 38·4 mm.