Abstract

Canjerana (Cabralea canjerana (Vell.) Martius) is a tree species indigenous to Brazil that when grown and managed in plantation systems are of great ecological and economic importance. Due to the difficulty of producing seminal seedlings, we examine the possibility of vegetative propagation by evaluating the rooting potential of canjerana mini-cuttings with different concentrations of indolbutyric acid (IBA) and substrate combinations. Mini-cuttings were treated with 2000 mg/L of IBA and planted in commercial substrate; coarse sand; carbonized rice husks; and a combination of the two. Apical and nodal mini-cuttings were treated with 0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/L of IBA and planted in a combination of commercial substrate, coarse sand and carbonized rice husks. A mini-clonal hedge was formed with three clones of canjerana to evaluate mini-stump productivity and mini-cutting rooting. The combination of commercial substrate, coarse sand and carbonized rice husks maximized mini-cuttings rooting. Nodal mini-cuttings had higher rooting capability than apical ones. The application of 3000 mg/L of IBA improved rooting differentiation and growth of canjerana mini-cuttings. Canjerana clones differ in rooting capability and survival rates in vegetative propagation systems, but the use of a mini-cutting propagation system is a feasible production technique for this important species.

Key words: Vegetative propagation, miniclonal hedge, mini-cutting rooting, indolbutyric acid.