Abstract
1. Root formation and respiration of the cuttings of Camellia japonica L. (cv. Otome) and Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (cv. Alps) were studied in relation to temperature. The materials were kept in growth chambers of low (17°C) medium (23°C) and high temperature (30°C) during propagation.
2. Callus formation and rooting of camellia were greatly promoted with rising temperature. When the final observations were made 70 days after planting, 16.0 %, 36.0% and 87.5% root formation were_shown in low, medium and high temperature, respectively.
3. Root formation in chrysanthemum was earlier in higher temperatures (23°C and 30°C) than in low temperature (17°C). But, 19 days after planting, both the rooting percentage and number of roots per cutting were lower at higher temperatures.
4. Respiration rates of upper and lower parts of the cutting were determined periodically during propagation. The rates of upperr parts were much higher in chrysanthemum than in camellia throughout the propagation period. In both plants, the rates were higher initially as the temperature was raised and then decreased more rapidly with raising temperature. There were no marked changes in the rates during the subsequent period for those samples.
5. For lower parts of the cutting, the rise in respiration, which was closely associated with rooting, were observed 7 to 11 days and 50 to 60 days after planting for chrysanthemum and camellia, respectively. The peaks were earlier and greater with rising temperature for both plants.
6. From the studies under the different temperatures it was found that in camellia the root formation was greater at higher temperatures when respiration was marked, but the root formation of chrysanthemum was greater at lower temperatures.
