A Comparative Evaluation of Coconut Water as Root Setting Medium for Rhizopora Stylosa Hypocotyl Propagation

The study evaluated if coconut water can be utilized as root setting medium in mangrove propagation. The study also determined if there is a major difference between coconut water and commercial rooting hormone on the growth of Rhizopora stylosa in terms of number of roots and average length of roots generated. Rhizopora stylosa hypocotyls were obtained from their natural habitat located at Baluarte, Tagoloan Misamis Oriental, Philippines. The hypocotyls were washed, disinfected and treated with coconut water and with commercial rooting hormone. The cultivars were hydroponically grown and were kept in a laboratory conditions with artificial lightning. After six weeks the number of roots was counted and the length of roots was measured. The t-test analysis set at 0.05 level of significance showed that coconut water can be utilized as root setting hormone since the results showed enough evidence that there is no significant difference between the coconut water and the commercial rooting hormone on the number of roots and lengths of roots generated by Rhizopora stylosa. This means that root generation and root growth capability of coconut water was as good as commercial rooting hormone. Therefore coconut water can be used as alternative root setting medium in Rhizopora stylosa propagation.