Effect of plant growth regulators and stem cutting sizes on plant height, yeald and fruit quality of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) growth on bris soil

Abstract

Hylocereus polyrhizus (dragon fruits) originate from North, Central and South America and are cactus in nature. This plant is a desert plant and highly adaptable to a new environment. However, there were no scientific reports on adaptation of this crop to bris soil. Therefore, this study was carried out to establish the H. polyrhizus on undeveloped bris soil at the Department of Agriculture, Rhu Tapai, Terengganu. In Terengganu, there are about 15,000 acres of undeveloped land and most of them are the bris soil. The primary study on the effect of synthetic hormone auxin, IBA (Indole-3-butyric Acid) on the cuttings of H. polyrhizus was carried out in the greenhouse of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). The aim of the study was to determine the effect of IBA and stem cutting sizes on rooting of H. polyrhizus. The cuttings of H. polyrhizus; 5 cm (2 inches), 10 cm (4 inches), 15 cm (6 inches) and 30 cm (12 inches) in length were soaked in IBA solutions at 0, 300, 500, 750 and 1000 ppm.