Effects of Cutting Size and Cutting Season on Propagation Efficiency of Double Petaled Red Camellia (Camellia Japonica L.)

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of cutting season and cutting size on shoot growth and rooting ability of double-petaled red camellia (Camellia japonica L.) propagated by cuttings. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three cutting diameter classes (15 - 20 mm, 25 - 30 mm, and 35 - 40 mm) and four cutting seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter). The results showed that both factors significantly affected survival rate, bud sprouting, shoot growth, and rooting ability (P < 0.05). Cuttings propagated in spring and autumn exhibited higher survival rates (80,0 – 89,0%) and bud sprouting rates (77,1 – 86,0%) compared with summer and winter. Among cutting sizes, the 25 - 30 mm diameter cuttings showed superior performance, achieving the highest rooting percentage (81,5 – 85,8%), number of roots (3,4 – 3,6 roots per cutting), and root length (4,1- 4,4 cm). Smaller cuttings showed limited rooting capacity, while larger cuttings were less stable across seasons. It is therefore recommended that double-petaled red camellia should be propagated by cuttings in spring or autumn using cuttings with diameters of 25 - 30 mm to obtain high propagation efficiency.