Abstract: Dwarf bamboo is widely used in landscaping. Propagation in container by its rhizome is one way for dwarf bamboo production in supply for yeararound afforestation and fast landscaping. Seedling quality is closely associated with its lateral rhizome bud status. Here, we examined the effects of bud position, length, and thickness of rhizome on lateral bud sprouting of Indocalamus decorus.One-year-old rhizome segments with two diameter grades \[smaller rhizome (D1, 2.90±0.32 mm) and bigger rhizome (D2, 5.42 ±0.63 mm)\] and three length rhizomes (L1, 3 cm； L2, 6 cm； L3, 9 cm) were examined. The results showed that at least one rhizome lateral bud sprouted and grew into a young bamboo. More lateral buds sprouted apically or basally. Lateral buds sprouted much more at both segment ends than in its middle part. Lateral bud sprout-out was promoted by rhizome length at both rhizome segment ends, but not by rhizome segment diameter. The rhizome segment length and diameter had significant positive effects on number, ground diameter and height of young bamboos that grew on the whole rhizome segment. They also had significant effects on number of young bamboos located in different rhizome segment positions, but did not affect its ground diameter and height. The position of rhizome segment did not affect young bamboo growth for the same classes of rhizome length and diameter. Considering the dependence of lateral rhizome bud sprouting on the position in rhizome segments, short and multi-segment rhizomes were recommended for rhizomeburring propagation in one-year-old dwarf bamboo production.

Key words: Indocalamus decorus, container seedling, bamboo rhizome, lateral bud directional sprouting.