The present investigation entitled “Optimizing propagation media for improved rooting and growth in stool shoots of ‘Gisela 5’ cherry rootstock” was carried out in Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Himachal Pradesh, India during 2022-2023. The experiment consists of 5 levels of rooting media (cocopeat, sawdust, vermicompost, sawdust + vermicompost and soil). Each treatment was replicated five times in a randomized block design. The results revealed that stool shoots mounded with cocopeat exhibited maximum percentage of rooted stool shoots (89.34%), rootstock height (137.84 cm), diameter (11.65 mm), number of shoots (6.80), fresh and dry weight of shoots (130.36 g and 80.20 g, respectively), number of main roots (11), length of longest root (40.13 cm), root diameter (6.25 mm), and fresh and dry weight of roots (60.16 g and 37.72 g, respectively), leaf chlorophyll content (2.34 mg/g fresh weight), photosynthetic rate (11.26 μmol CO2m-2s-1), transpiration rate (5.01 mmol H2O m-2s-1) and stomatal conductance (0.32 mol H2O m-2s-1). From the results of the present investigation, it could be concluded that planting of stool shoots under cocopeat propagation media was most effective treatment for clonal propagation of cherry rootstock ‘Gisela 5’ through mound layering to produce higher percentage of rooted stool shoots with good root and shoot system to be used as quality rootstocks

Gisela, Mound layering, Prunus avium, Rooting media, Root and shoot growth

The study aimed to identify the most effective rooting medium for enhancing root initiation and vegetative growth of stool shoots in ‘Gisela 5’ cherry rootstock. Among the media evaluated, cocopeat proved significantly superior in promoting highest percentage of rooting in stool shoots and both root and shoot development. Thus, cocopeat is recommended as the optimal substrate for mound layering of ‘Gisela 5’ to ensure the production of high-quality planting material

Verma P., Sharma N.C., Verma P. and Dhiman A. (2025). Optimizing Propagation Media for Improved Rooting and Growth in Stool Shoots of ‘Gisela 5’ Cherry Rootstock. Biological Forum, 17(5a): 101-106