My work based experience with callusing of woody cuttings in general is that the callus blocks roots, with any roots present on cuttings with significant callusing appearing only where there were gaps in the callusing. So that the callus has to be trimmed, the cuttings re-stuck if there is to be any possibility of good rooting afterward.

Experiment going well.

The cuttings that have not been dipped look as though they are initiating buds where the former needles were removed. The picture above has two of these initiates. All three cuttings I dipped today had these forming.

None of the following three cuttings had the same callused tissue on the removed leaf site. I think the difference is that on some I removed the leaves "traditionally" by ripping them off. On others I pinched them off with my thumb nail, and THOSE are the ones that formed these calluses.

Thanks for the update.

Did those calluses in the picture try to form any needles?

It possibly could form roots?

Probably be too early to tell.

I just checked that same cutting in the above photo. These swellings have increased in size, but I don't see any differentiation visibly, whether the cells are leaning toward root formation or vegetative. Obviously I'd only be able to know that answer if I saw a needle/shoot/bud or roots forming.

As a side experiment, I cut one of the swollen bumps in half. Why not?

Okay, thanks!

The reason I mentioned it was, I've seen some early root 'bumps' (online) that appeared to be branching upward, like a branch would, instead of downward. Later, when more developed, they were sticking straight out, to the sides. But I don't know enough about this either so would have to have it happen to know what the results would be.

:^)

Another update,

All of week 2 and week 3 dipped cuttings have dried out, as well as 8/16 cuttings that were dipped immediately. The best looking cuttings so far are those dipped one week after being stuck. The initials (pictured above) have continued to increase in size but no differentiation has occurred to produce roots.. It's been 5 weeks, so I wouldn't expect to see roots yet anyway.

Vegetative propagation of eastern white pine by cuttings.

Kiang Rogers Pike