The rooting performance of cuttings from three endemic thyme species, Thymus daenensis, T. migricus, and T. pubescens, was evaluated using Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) solutions at four concentrations (0, 200, 500, and 1000 ppm). The study was conducted in a factorial randomized block design with three replicates. Key parameters assessed included rooting percentage, number of roots per cutting, longest root length, lateral shoot length, number of lateral shoots per cutting, and days to the first lateral shoots. Rooting percentage was generally higher with IBA treatment compared to NAA. All other characteristics varied depending on the species and the concentration of the rooting solutions. The highest number of roots per cutting (4) and the longest root length (9.66 cm) were observed in T. daenensis Male Fertile. This species also produced the longest lateral shoots (10 cm). The maximum number of lateral shoots (9.66) was recorded in both Male Sterile and Male Fertile forms of T. daenensis. Additionally, T. pubescens exhibited faster lateral shoot emergence compared to T. migricus and T. daenensis. The results suggest that while both NAA and IBA have similar effects on rooting, concentrations of 200 and 500 ppm are optimal for thyme species. The study also concluded that male sterile plants outperformed male fertile plants in terms of rooting rate and root production. These findings are valuable for breeding programs and developing plant clones.

Keywords