Optimizing hardwood cutting lengths for enhanced propagation success and growth of Bougainvillea varieties in Konkan agroclimatic conditions

Abstract

The current study focused on optimizing hardwood cutting lengths to enhance the propagation success and growth of various bougainvillea varieties in the Konkan agroclimatic region. The research was conducted at the Hi-tech unit of the College of Horticulture, Dapoli, under the auspices of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, utilizing a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) within a partially protected environment, specifically a green shade net house, with two replications and sixteen treatment combinations. The investigation involved eight bougainvillea varieties (M. P. S., Pink Beauty, Dr. Bhabha, Mary Palmer, Singapore Red, Blondie, Roseville’s Delight and Gopal) alongside two hardwood cutting lengths (10 cm and 15 cm). Findings revealed that V5L1 and V5L2 (variety Singapore Red propagated with hardwood cutting lengths 10 cm and 15 cm, respectively) exhibited a 100% sprouting as well as survival percentage, irrespective of the cutting length. The treatment combination V5L2 (variety Singapore Red with hardwood cutting length 15 cm) also recorded maximum values for plant height (68.90 cm), stem girth of shoot (3.98 mm) and length of longest root (13.62 cm). Maximum number of shoots (6.10 shoots) and leaves per cutting (64.70 leaves) were registered by V2L2 (variety Pink Beauty with hardwood cutting length 15 cm), whereas maximum number of roots per cutting (34.50 roots) were observed in V6L2 (variety Blondie with 15 cm hardwood cutting length).