Evaluation of Plant Growth Regulators on Sweetpotato Slip Morphology

Sweetpotato production faces challenges with low transplant survival rates, particularly for greenhouse-grown slips, often attributed to reduced stem rigidity. We evaluated the effects of four plant growth regulators (PGRs)—flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, uniconazole, and indole-3-butyric acid—applied foliarly at varying concentrations on the growth and development of sweetpotato slips. Results showed that uniconazole at 20 mg·L –1 applied twice reduced slip height by 41.60%, whereas flurprimidol and uniconazole also reduced stem diameter at middle rates. Soil plant analysis development measurements indicated increased leaf greenness with flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, and uniconazole applications, with flurprimidol producing a 7% to 10% enhancement. No significant differences in number of nodes, fresh or dry weights, leaf area, or root weight were observed across treatments. These findings highlight the potential of targeted PGR applications to optimize sweetpotato slip growth. Further research is recommended to refine application rates and evaluate long-term effects on field performance.