A fungicide such as Captan added to a rooting hormone helps prevent cuttings from rotting.

• A. Captan
• B. Copper sulfate
• C. Mancozeb
• D. Chlorothalonil

Answer: (A)

Preventing tissue rot during propagation is about protecting cuttings from fungi that colonize moist, freshly cut surfaces. A fungicide added to a rooting hormone provides immediate surface protection as the cutting attempts to form roots, reducing damping-off and rots caused by common pathogens in the rooting environment. Captan is a contact fungicide that stays on the surface of the tissue and in the surrounding medium, killing or inhibiting fungi on contact and preventing establishment of rots while roots develop. It is widely used in rooting hormone premixes because it is effective against the pathogens most likely to attack cuttings, works locally without needing systemic movement, and is generally compatible with the hormone and media conditions used in propagation. Other fungicides exist but can have drawbacks in this specific use, such as potential phytotoxicity or reduced compatibility with rooting hormone formulations.