Two-leaf, two-node cuttings were taken from Eucalyptus grandis stockplants grown under different light qualities (red to far- red ratios of 0.4, 0.7, 1.3, 3.5 and 6.5) at a constant photon flux density (200 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)). Two experiments tested effects of pre-severance light quality on cutting morphology, post-severance gas exchange, carbohydrate status and rooting of cuttings. The best rooting percentage was achieved by cuttings with longer stems and greater stem volume from stockplants grown at lower red to far-red (R:FR) ratios. Generally, rooting success was associated with low pre-severance starch and water- soluble sugar concentrations, and a greater total water-soluble carbohydrate (TWSC) content per cutting. Rooting was associated with well maintained stem starch and an increase in stem TWSC during the propagation period. Gas exchange of cuttings was measured between 28 and 33 days after severance. Rooting percentages at 35 days after severance were positively and linearly related to net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. In unrooted cuttings there was a net release of CO2 which increased significantly with an increase in pre- severance R:FR ratio. These results demonstrate that stockplant environment may significantly modify the morphology and physiology of subsequent cuttings, and that cutting morphology, and stored and current photosynthates have a significant influence on rooting.