Enhancing Root Development: The Impact of Indole-3-Butyric Acid on Nodal Leaf and Tip Cuttings of Dendrocalamus longispathus and Bambusa tulda

Abstract

This study examines the effects of two propagation techniques—nodal leaf cuttings and tip cuttings—on root development in two bamboo species, Dendrocalamus longispathus and Bambusa tulda. The experiment aimed to determine the most effective propagation method for enhancing root growth, addressing the challenge of optimizing bamboo cultivation for both conservation and commercial purposes. The experiment was conducted using a non-mist propagator system, under controlled humidity and temperature, to observe differences in root number and length after four weeks. Our results indicate significant differences between the two cutting methods across both species, with D. longispathus generally demonstrating more substantial root growth compared to B. tulda in both metrics. Specifically, for D. longispathus, nodal leaf cuttings showed a consistently higher mean root length, whereas for B. tulda, tip cuttings eventually resulted in slightly longer roots, highlighting a species-specific response to the propagation methods. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences (p<0.05) in root growth dynamics between treatments, underscoring the importance of choosing appropriate propagation techniques based on species-specific responses. This research contributes to the understanding of bamboo propagation strategies and suggests further exploration into species-specific cultivation methods to enhance growth and conservation efforts.