<![CDATA[This study aimed to evaluate the effects of stem cutting position and node number on the growth and tuber production of black potato (Plectranthus rotundifolius). The experiment was conducted from February to July 2026 at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mataram, using a factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors: stem cutting position (S1: apical, S2: middle, and S3: basal) and node number (P1: two, P2: three, and P3: four nodes), with three replications. The results showed that apical cuttings (S1) significantly increased plant height, reaching 53.18 cm at 84 days after planting (DAP), and leaf number, reaching 23.88 leaves at 28 DAP. Node number as a single factor had no significant effect on plant growth or biomass accumulation. Significant interactions between cutting position and node number were observed for plant height at 84 DAP and leaf number at 28 DAP. The S1P3 combination produced the highest plant height (54.47 cm) and leaf number (29.00 leaves). However, no tubers were formed in any treatment up to 148 DAP. The absence of tuber formation may have been associated with greenhouse temperatures of 30–33°C, although this relationship was not directly tested. In conclusion, apical cuttings, particularly those with four nodes, produced the highest vegetative growth under the tested conditions. These findings provide preliminary information for black potato vegetative propagation, although further research under suitable tuber-inducing conditions is needed to evaluate tuber production and identify effective propagation practices.]]>
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