IMPACT OF VARIED GROWING SUBSTRATES ON SHOOT DEVELOPMENT IN DRAGON FRUIT (HYLOCEREUS UNDATUS) CUTTINGS

The study conducted at Horticultural Research Farm No.1 Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University.the impact of various growing media on the root and shoot growth of Hylocereus undatus (dragon fruit) cuttings was investigated.Different compositions, including pure and ratios of 1:1 and 2:1 (v/v), were employed in the media.The experiment encompassed nine treatments and followed a Randomised Block Design replicated three times.The most favourable shoot parameters are as given average number of sprouts (7.6), shoot length (38.64cm) and shoot fresh and dry weight (126.53 and 15.57g, respectively)were observed when utilizing a mixture of Soil+ Sand + Vermicompost (in a ratio of 2:1:1), Notably, the initiation of Sprouts occurred in shortest duration (38 days) within the soil + sand +Vermicompost (2:1:1) group.Additionally, this particular media combination demonstrated the maximum survival % measuring (99.33%) with the root to shoot ratio (0.080)