Effects of Nutrient Solution Composition and Cutting Size on Growth of Virus-free Sweet Potato Plant in Nutrient Film Technique

To develop a technique for mass-propagation of virus-free sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] plant using nutrient film technique (NFT), the growth characteristics of 4 cultivars as affected by nutrient solution composition and cutting size were investigated. 72 cells (35 mL/cell) plug trays filled with vermiculite and perlite (1:1, v/v) were used. Vine length, fresh and dry weights of virus-free plants were the greatest in the nutrient solution recommended by National Horticultural Research Station in Japan, followed by that recommended by National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science in Korea, and Yamazaki's nutrient solution for lettuce. The growth of uppershoot cuttings was the best among 4 subsections of cutting. Vine length, and fresh and dry weights increased in the longer cutting treatments, and were better in 'Shinzami' and 'Yeonhwangmi' than those in 'Mannami' and 'Shincheonmi'. Vine diameter and length of the longest root were not significantly affected by the cutting size and cutting source. The growth characteristics of the single node cutting were not significantly different from those in 2-node cutting. The efficiency of rapid mass-propagation could be promoted with single node cuttings and uppershoot cuttings gown in NFT system.