Vegetative propagation of mate from shoot cuttings induced by coppicing of selected plants

Abstract

Mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil) is an arboreal species of great economic and socio-environmental importance, which presents difficulties in the adventitious rooting process. The rhizogenic competence of vegetative propagules of mate can be attained by coppicing, but the factors that influence the success of this technique have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the stock plant, time of shoot collection, treatment with indolebutyric acid (IBA) and diameter of vegetative propagules in the adventitious rooting of cuttings from shoots induced by coppicing of selected adult plants of mate. Shoots produced from coppiced 13SM01 and 13SM05 stock plants were collected at different times of the year to prepare single-bud cuttings. The cuttings were measured as their diameter in the central portion and treated with 0 and 3000 mg L-1 of IBA. After 60 days, cuttings were evaluated to determine survival and rooting percentages, number of roots, and length of the three largest roots. A completely randomized design was used in a 4 × 2 × 2 × 13 (collection times x stock plants x IBA treatment x diameter classes) factorial scheme with 15 replications. Competence for adventitious rooting was highest for stock plant 13SM05. Cuttings collected in November and February had the highest rooting percentages, without the need of IBA treatment. Cuttings from 13SM01 and 13SM05 with diameters smaller than 0.636 cm (classes 1 to 6) and smaller than 0.712 cm (classes 1 to 7), respectively, had the highest rooting percentages and differed significantly from cuttings with larger diameters. Thus, the results of the present study indicate that stock plants, time of shoot collection, and diameter of vegetative propagules influence adventitious rooting competence of mate cuttings from coppicing adult plants. Rooting of mate cuttings with lower rhizogenic competence is influenced by the application of 3000 mg L-1 of IBA.