Study on Several Technical Measures for the Vegetative Propagation of Purple Southern Ginseng (Wisteriopsis reticulata (Benth.) J. Compton & Schrire)

Wisteriopsis reticulata (Benth.) J. Compton & Schrire (Purple Southern Ginseng) is a promising medicinal plant with considerable potential for cultivation and sustainable utilization. However, the large-scale production of uniform, high-quality planting materials remains limited because of the lack of efficient vegetative propagation techniques. This study aimed to establish an effective stem cutting propagation protocol by evaluating the effects of cutting position, number of nodes per cutting and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentration on sprouting, rooting and seedling quality under nursery conditions. Three cutting positions (softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood), three cutting lengths (two-, three- and four-node cuttings) and four IBA treatments (0, 1,200, 1,500 and 2,000 mg L⁻1) were investigated. The results demonstrated that cutting position significantly affected propagation performance. Semi-hardwood cuttings produced the highest sprouting rate (92.12%), survival rate (86.54%), rooting rate (91.71%) and nursery-ready seedling rate (83.71%). Among cutting lengths, three-node cuttings exhibited the best propagation efficiency with a rooting rate of 90.83% and a nursery-ready seedling rate of 81.90%. IBA application markedly enhanced sprouting and rooting compared with the untreated control and treatment with 1,500 mg L⁻1 IBA produced the most favorable results, including a sprouting rate of 90.42%, rooting rate of 86.24% and nursery-ready seedling rate of 83.81%. Pest and disease incidence in the nursery remained low and did not significantly affect seedling growth. These findings indicate that semi-hardwood, three-node cuttings treated with 1,500 mg L⁻1 IBA provide an effective propagation protocol for the large-scale production of high-quality W. reticulata seedlings, contributing to the conservation and sustainable cultivation of this valuable medicinal species.