I think if one of the parents is NOT a cane, then odds are good that you can propagate using a leaf. Rooting a cane leaf is not the problem but growing a plant from the roots is! So many people can root a cane leaf but no one has shown you can grow a plant from it, YET. Then there are some Asian species that look cane-like that can be propagated from leaf such as brevirimosa and amphioxus to name two. What is the difference? Inquiring minds want to know.

Of course your experiment makes me wonder if tissue culture might work with a cane leaf. I think I read somewhere that some plants cannot be grown through tissue culture such as some orchids (why not?) but if all plants could be then we'd have masses of plants at much lower prices (makes sense/cents)

Byron Martin did a seminar on tissue culture at the ABS convention 2006. Once they do all the rigorous cleaning and get a clean sample into a sterile flask, they can propagate to their heart's content. Going by his presentation, it looks like anyone can do it but it might take a while to get a clean room - sterile enough to do this kind of work.