Effect of Different Dosages of Indole-3-Butryic Acid and Naphthalene Acetic Acid Application on Growth Parameters of Morus Alba Mulberry

Abstract

Plant growth regulators such as Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) play a significant role in enhancing the rooting and vegetative growth of Morus alba (mulberry). This study evaluates the effects of different concentrations of IBA (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 ppm) and NAA (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 ppm) on key growth parameters, including shoot length, number of roots per plant, root length and number of leaves per plant at 90 days after planting (DAP). The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications, and data significance was assessed through Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results indicated that both IBA and NAA significantly influenced the growth attributes of Morus alba, with the optimal concentration being 1000–2000 ppm. IBA@1000ppm produced the highest shoot length (17.45 cm), root number (11.42 no’s), number of leaves (8 no’s) and root length (18.37 cm), while NAA@2000ppm exhibited the highest shoot length (16.37 cm), root number (10.50 no’s), number of leaves (7.75 no’s) and root length (17.50 cm). Higher concentrations (≥3000 ppm) resulted in growth inhibition due to possible auxin toxicity. These findings emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate auxin levels to optimize mulberry propagation. Future studies should investigate the combined effects of IBA and NAA for enhanced plant growth and productivity.