Rooting of Brazilian coral as a function of cutting types and season of the year

Abstract

Erythrina falcata Benth. may be used as an ornamental plant, in rehabilitation of degraded land and as a component in agroforestry systems. However seedling production from seeds is difficult. The aim of this work was to evaluate vegetative propagation of E. falcata by using stem cuttings obtained from adult trees (softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings and regrowth cuttings) and cuttings from seedlings collected in the four seasons of the year as well as the effect of indolebutyric acid on rooting of stem cuttings. After cutting preparation, the material was treated with an indolebutyric acid solution (IBA, 0, 1.5 and 3 g L-1). Cuttings were grown in 55-mL tapered plastic containers in a greenhouse at 25 to 30°C and relative humidity above 80%. The substrate for growing of cuttings was middle texture vermiculite. The highest percentage of rooted cuttings (73%) and root length of four longest roots (46 mm) and root number (6.2) were obtained in seedling cuttings collected in the summer. No rooting was observed in cuttings collected from softwood cuttings raised from adult trees. Cutting immersion in IBA solutions had no effect on rooting. Cuttings from seedlings collected in the summer are recommended because of their high percentage of rooting and survival.