During the rooting process, i.e., from cutting excision to the 30-day rooting assessment, samples were collected for further molecular and biochemical analyses. These consisted of four whole cuttings, which were thoroughly washed in distilled water and dried with paper towels and then placed in aluminum foil packets and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. The sample collection was performed at 0 (following excision), 7, 14, and 21 days post-excision (dpe). The cuttings were later finely ground in liquid nitrogen and kept at −80 °C for further analysis. Due to the generally faster development of AEC0144, its cuttings were not sampled beyond 14 dpe.
The adventitious root (AR) development was also monitored before the final rooting assessment. At 14 dpe (all clones) and 21 dpe (E. dunnii clones), the cuttings (n = 4–8) were removed from the rooting substrates, washed in distilled water, and dried with paper towels, and both the number of ARs and the length of the longest AR (hereafter, the root length) were recorded. The roots were measured using a digital caliper and only accounted for if they were 2 mm or longer and bearing a polar tip. The chlorophyll fluorescence was monitored using a nondestructive chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502Plus, Konica Minolta, Tokyo, Japan).
The adventitious root (AR) development was also monitored before the final rooting assessment. At 14 dpe (all clones) and 21 dpe (E. dunnii clones), the cuttings (n = 4–8) were removed from the rooting substrates, washed in distilled water, and dried with paper towels, and both the number of ARs and the length of the longest AR (hereafter, the root length) were recorded. The roots were measured using a digital caliper and only accounted for if they were 2 mm or longer and bearing a polar tip. The chlorophyll fluorescence was monitored using a nondestructive chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502Plus, Konica Minolta, Tokyo, Japan).