Evaluation of propagation of Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) under different plantation conditions

Abstract

Bougainvillea is popularly used as an ornamental plant, appraised because of its aesthetic bracts, but it undergoes difficulty in propagation due to incompetence in root growth. Hence comprehensive research is required for improving its propagation ways to widen its cultivation. The present study was therefore conducted to explore the growth, rooting, and sprouting response of Bougainvillea cuttings to different planting conditions (tunnel and open field conditions). The research was executed by applying a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement. Cuttings of two bougainvillea types (Climbing and Bush Bougainvillea) were used. It was noted that growth and rooting of both bougainvillea types were significantly (P<0.05) affected by different plantation conditions. The results elaborated that the Bougainvillea cuttings planted under tunnel conditions took less time to sprouting (5.50) with maximum branches (20.01), sprouting (88.33%) and survivability (83.33 %). The cuttings grown under tunnel conditions also exhibited maximum shoot and root biomass production (15.46 g and 1.15 g) and root numbers (12.68). Concerning the Bougainvillea types, "Bush bougainvillea" showed supervisor performance for most of the assessed traits in comparison with its counterpart “Climbing bougainvillea”. After reviewing the findings of this study, it is determined that bougainvillea plantation with plastic tunnels had better results in terms of sprouts, rooting and growth characteristics. Pertaining to bougainvillea types, the "Bush bougainvillea” exhibited greater results than the "Climbing bougainvillea".