SEMIHARDWOOD CUTTINGS OF Vochysia bifalcata

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the semihardwood cuttings rooting of Vochysia bifalcata (guaricica). The cuttings were prepared with 12 ± 2 cm long, 0.3 to 0.6 mm in diameter and two leaves in the apical portion, with its area reduced by half. We used a completely randomized design, with four replications, in a factorial 4 x 2 (four concentrations of IBA: zero, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg dm^-3; and with or without application of antioxidant PVP₄₀). Each experimental unit consisted of 20 cuttings, packed in plastic tubes with vermiculite medium and kept in greenhouse for 60 days. We evaluated the percentage of rooting, of cuttings with callus, alive, dead, with shoots and that kept leaves. There was not rooting or callus formation in hardwood cuttings of V. bifalcata. The application of IBA and/or PVP did not influence significantly the survival, budding and kept of leaves of the cuttings. The survival of the cuttings was low (19%), demonstrating that the physiological conditions of the cuttings were not favorable for rooting. Further experiments are needed, especially using the rejuvenation of the cuttings.