Abstract
Cassava serves as a crucial raw material and sustenance staple in developing countries, extensively used in the production of starch, bioethanol, and various bioproducts. However, the cultivation of cassava is increasingly challenged by diseases, particularly the cassava mosaic virus. Therefore, efficient propagule systems are needed to provide disease‐free plants to sustain production. This study aimed to develop a rapid propagation method to increase the production of planting material. Various propagation media were assessed for their impact on root formation and plantlet vigour using a 3 × 4 factorial in a Randomized Complete Block Design during April 2023 to September 2023. Three cassava cultivars (KU50, RY9, and HB60) were tested against four media (distilled water, 250 mg·L−1 IBA, SAH solution, and IBA + SAH combination). Subsequently, the optimal medium was used to compare three propagation techniques (leaf bud, mini, and normal cutting) across the cassava cultivars. Aeroponic systems were then employed for further shoot multiplication, evaluating growth and survival metrics. In the first experiment, RY9 had better growth parameters, while KU50 had the highest survival rate at 82%. Applying the SAH was the optimal solution when compared to other media tested. It significantly enhanced the plantlet height (7.30 cm), survival percentage (71.61%), plantlet vigour index (1513.60), and allometric coefficient (0.55). The leaf bud technique had the highest multiplication trait values, whereas the mini‐cutting method had the highest survival rate, and normal cutting had superior performance compared to leaf bud and mini‐cutting for the plant growth parameters. Plantlets produced through mini‐cutting (93%) and leaf bud propagation (92%) had a higher survival rate than those produced using normal cutting (46%) in the aeroponic system under greenhouse conditions. The study revealed a homogeneity in growth and survival traits across the cassava cultivars evaluated in aeroponic cultivation. These findings demonstrated the potential of using leaf bud or mini‐cutting propagation techniques for multiplication in aeroponic cultivation to produce high‐quality plantlets on a large‐scale production.