Exploring water marcotting technique for Pink Kopsia (Kopsia fruticosa) propagation: a comparative study of water media

This study investigates the utilization of water marcotting, an innovative approach to asexual plant propagation, focusing on its application for Pink Kopsia. Water marcotting involves immersing a diagonally cut stem in water within a secure container, in contrast to conventional methods using rooting mediums. The primary aim is to assess the response of Pink Kopsia to water marcotting. Three water media (tap water, distilled water, and SNAP water) were employed as treatments for water marcotting Pink Kopsia stems with diameters ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 inches. Measurements were taken after 2 nodes from the stem base and a 1-inch cut was made. Each treatment had 2 replicates with 6 samples each. Initial data on leaf count, node count, flower presence, stem length, and diameter were collected. After 2 months, additional data on root count and root length were obtained. Initial data did not yield statistical significance. However, after 2 months, significant differences emerged in stem length and root length. Post hoc analysis using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) method, conducted through jamovi statistical software, revealed that tap water and distilled water treatments produced significantly longer stems compared to SNAP water treatment. Moreover, tap water treatment displayed the shortest root length (4.74 cm) compared to distilled water (9.57 cm), with snap water (7.25 cm) falling in between, as indicated by the Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner (DSCF) test, a non-parametric post hoc test. As a future research direction, it's recommended to explore the survival, acclimatization, growth, and health of detached Pink Kopsia plants water marcotted from the parent plant. This could offer insights into the technique's long-term viability and practical use in propagation. This study emphasizes water media's role in stem and root development, highlighting water marcotting's potential as an effective Pink Kopsia propagation method. Subsequent investigations could extend its application to various plant species.