Rooting dynamics of Brazilian cherry tree minicuttings

Abstract

The expansion of Brazilian cherry tree cultivation is affected by propagation difficulties and slow seedling production development. The cuttings and minicuttings technique is an alternative that offers several advantages, and it proved to be highly promising for many fruit tree species. Minicuttings taken from a clonal garden were rooted in 22 x 14 x 10 cm plastic boxes containing vermiculite, at IAB concentration of 2.000 mg.L-1. The experimental design was totally randomized with eight treatments (cultivation weeks), with four replications, with five minicuttings each. They were evaluated eight times (once a week), for a period of two months. The following variables were analyzed: number of swollen minicuttings, rooted minicuttings and minicuttings with roots longer than 1 cm. From the third week onwards, rooting was positive, with 70% of rooted minicuttings and 5% with swellings. In the fourth evaluation, 55% already showed roots longer than one centimeter, with a mean of 2.66 cm, five with roots emergence and three with swellings. In general, in seven weeks’ time the minicuttings showed efficient root development and were ready to be transplanted to plastic bags to develop quality seedlings.