Irrigation was supplied using a RRS-1 mist system (Netafim, Tel Aviv, Israel) with sprinkler lines under the control of a mist propagation controller. A modified wet rain sensor was used as an artificial leaf to activate the sprinkler. After 2 months, cuttings were removed and classified as: rooted, callused, living unrooted, and dead.
The number of cuttings with retained buds was counted. The percentage of cuttings with retained buds was calculated across all living (rooted, callused and unrooted) cuttings (living cuttings with retained buds) and across rooted cuttings (rooted cuttings with retained buds). The mean number of retained buds was calculated across the number of cuttings with at least one retained buds (number of retained buds per cutting).