J.R. Pardales, Jr. and C.B. Esquibel
ABSTRACT
The effect of selected cultural practices on the adventitious root development in the stem cuttings of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] was investigated through pot experiments. Storing apical stem cuttings for at least 3 days under ambient condition markedly increased the number and total length of the adventitious roots (ARs) and the number of the first order lateral roots (LRs) per plant. Variety had no significant influence on the number and elongation of the ARs except that VSP-4 produced notably more first order LRs than VSP-2. The number of nodes buried in the soil at planting did not have significant effect on the production and elongation of the ARs and first order LRs. However, the results showed that the fewer the number of nodes buried at planting, the longer was the length of the ARs and the greater was the number of the first order LRs. Application of fertilizer had no positive effect on the same root system components while water application markedly influenced only the elongation of the ARs. Apical stem cuttings supported significantly greater AR elongation and first order LR formation than basal cuttings. Stem cuttings with leaves intact produced significantly greater number and length of ARs and number of first order LRs than cutting in which the leaves were removed before planting.
Keywords: Adventitious roots. Apical Stem cuttings. First order lateral roots. Planting practices. Sweetpotato.
Annals of Tropical Research 19(1):(1997)
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