Node Position Determines Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) Cutting Performance: Toward a Targeted Inverted Planting Strategy.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) is a vital crop for food security, yet yields in Cuba remain below potential (2.5-10.0 t ha-1) due to suboptimal propagation practices. This study investigated the impact of nodal position (1-22) on root development in stem cuttings of cv. 'INIVIT B-240' under controlled conditions. Root primordia (24 h), fibrous roots (7 days), and storage roots (60 days) were evaluated. Intermediate nodes (8-12) exhibited superior rhizogenic capacity, with node 10 showing the highest root primordia density (3.0 ± 3) and nodes 10-12 producing the most fibrous roots (24.6-26.7 roots/cutting). Storage root formation was optimal at nodes 5-13, particularly nodes 8-11 (1.30+ roots/node; highest biomass). Multivariate analysis (Integrated Performance Index) confirmed nodes 8-12 as the most productive cluster. These findings challenge traditional apical-cutting practices, showing that mid-stem nodes optimize both rooting and tuberization. We propose inverted planting of pre-apical sections to bury high-performance nodes, potentially increasing yields in resource-limited systems.