Effect of plastic covering, manure and harvesting season on the propagation of branch cuttings from Dendrocalamus giganteus Munro

Dragon fruit plants can be propagated generatively by seeds and vegetatively by propagation of branch or stem cuttings. This study aims to examine the effect of Growtone's growth regulator on the growth of red dragon fruit stem cuttings. The treatment used Growtone with three concentration levels, namely 0 (without PGR as a control), 10 g ZPT/liter water, 15 g ZPT/liter water, and 20 g ZPT/liter water. The study was designed using a Randomized Block Design with six replications. Each experimental unit consisted of 10 plants. The plant growth responses measured were shoot growth time, number of shoots, shoot length, number of roots, root length, and root dry weight. The results of the study found that PGR Growtone had an effect on shoot length, root length, number of roots and root dry weight, but had no effect on shoot growth time and number of shoots. It is better to give Growtone ZPT with a concentration of 20 g/l water

In Japan, cut Sarcandra glabra branches with fruit are used as a New Year’s decoration, but frequent fruit drop reduces ornamental value. This study investigated the effects of the harvest season, postharvest treatments, and shipping conditions on the fruit drop of branches, in order to propose a suitable postharvest handling method for the shipment of cut S. glabra branches. Ethylene treatments accelerated fruit drop, especially in cut branches on which the pericarp turned red early in the growing season. Silver thiosulfate complex (STS), an ethylene action inhibitor, was effective in reducing fruit drop regardless of ethylene treatments. However, treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), another ethylene action inhibitor, increased the cumulative percentage of dropped fruit after seven days with or without ethylene treatment. A synthetic auxin, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), had an effect similar to that of STS, but NAA tended to accelerate leaf abscission. Treatments with 0.03 to 1.0 mM STS for three days at 10°C reduced fruit drop. Treatments with 0.03 to 0.1 mM STS for three days at 23°C also reduced fruit drop, but the cut ends of branches turned brown with more than 0.3 mM STS. For pretreatment with tap water, the cumulative percentage of dropped fruit after simulated shipment at 10°C increased earlier than at 2°C. Pretreatment with STS strongly suppressed fruit drop after simulated shipment at 2°C and 10°C. Sugar and antibacterial agents in the vase solution were also effective in reducing fruit drop. Finally, the cut branches of S. glabra were treated with 0.1 to 0.3 mM STS for three days in the grower’s stockroom, and then dry-transported by reefer container at 2°C for 11 days. As a result, the cumulative percentage of dropped fruit from the branches was very low for ten days in a quality test room.