Exploring sprouting and growth response of ixora stem cuttings (ixora cocccinea)

A pot experiment was conducted during 2017-2018 to examine sprouting and growth responses of ixora stem cutting types of and ixora varieties. The cutting 4-6 inches in length of two ixora varieties viz. S.Yellow and N.Grant were taken from well grown plants of ixora. The cuttings included terminal and sub-terminal stem cuttings. The cuttings types viz. C1-Terminal cuttings with two leaves, C2-Terminal cuttings with four leaves, C3-Sub-terminal stem cuttings with two leaves and C4-Sub-terminal stem cuttings with four leaves. The results indicated that days to sprouting, number of sprouts cutting-1, number of leaves cutting-1 and fresh weight of the roots cutting-1 were significantly affected by cutting types. However varietal effect and its interaction with cutting types were also observed significant for most of the parameters studied in the present study. The minimum mean days to sprouting (9.66) were recorded in response to the treatment where terminal cuttings with two leaves (C1) and terminal cuttings with four leaves were planted. Terminal cuttings with four leaves (C2) and terminal cuttings with two leaves (C1) sprouted 88.33% with mortality 36.66% and 80.00% with mortality 41.66% of the plants. Whereas, sub-terminal stem cuttings with four leaves (C4) and two leaves (C3) sprouted 71.66% with mortality 26.66% and 76.66% with mortality 40.00% respectively. The maximum mean number of roots (18.66) and fresh weight of roots (1.67 g) were observed where terminal stem cuttings with two leaves (C1) and sub-terminal stem cuttings with four leaves (C4) were planted. On the basis of varietal comparison, the highest sprouting (81.66%) was observed in S.Yellow variety as compared to N.Grant. Whereas, N.Grant produced more number of roots (20.74) and fresh weight of roots (1.46 g). The interactive effect of varieties and ixora cuttings depicted maximum number of sprouts (4.62), number of leaves (9.25) in response to the treatment where sub-terminal stem cuttings with four leaves (C4) were planted. However, maximum fresh weight of roots (2.24 g) was also observed from the plants where sub-terminal stem cuttings with four leaves were planted.