Rooting of cuttings in three blueberry cultivars (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of indolbutyric acid (IBA) on rotting of three blueberry cultivars (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Biloxi, Victoria and Ventura.

Design/methodology/approach: The experimental design was the completely randomized with factorial arrangement 3 x 4. Herbaceous cuttings of blueberry cultivars Biloxi, Victoria and Ventura, with 7 cm length and 2 mm diameter, were collected at the end in April 2017. The IBA concentrations were tested 0, 1 000, 2 000 and 3 000 mg L^-1. The cuttings were placed in peat and perlite substrate (50:50, v:v). Forty days after, the variables evaluated were rooting percent, cuttings died percent, number and length of primary roots, number of secondary roots, and survival percent after the transplant. Test of medians comparison Tukey (0.05) was did for the variables, except for all percent.

Results: The Victoria cultivar presented the higher average rooting percent with 61 %, moreover it obtained the less cuttings died percent. For the variables evaluated from roots, only number of primary roots and number of secondary roots had differences, the Victoria cultivar had 4.3 primary roots and the Biloxi cultivar had 12.65 secondary roots. The survival percent was major 95 % for all cultivars after the transplant.

Limitations on study/implications: In some cultivars, the high concentrations of auxins inhibit rooting.

Findings/conclusions: The proposed protocol let the rooting blueberry cuttings.