Indolebutyric acid responses on rooting and survival of Hymenaea courbaril L. cuttings

Abstract

Currently, the environmental appeal to promote reforestation programs, recovery of degraded areas and preservation of biodiversity pressures the production sector of native forest essences’ seedlings. Jatoba, Hymenaea courbaril L., is a native tree which provides many products of great economic relevance. Vegetative propagation is an alternative method for seedlings production, which presents many benefits, including the possibility of establishing high productivity clonal hedges, as it occurs with the Eucalyptus genus. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, with partial temperature and humidity control. The study assessed the effects of different dosages of indolbutiric acid (IBA) hormone in the process of rooting jatoba cuttings. The cuttings were prepared in a laboratory and submitted to different dosages of IBA (0, 200, 400, 600, 800 e 1000 mg L^-1), later established in sand substrate and placed in protected environment with intermittent fogging system and shading of 50%. Statistical analysis was carried out using R software, according to experimental design in randomized blocks, with six treatments and four replications. The results obtained by binomial evaluation showed there was no significant difference between IBA dosages, so the use of IBA on rooting H. courbaril cuttings was ineffective. However, success in the vegetative propagation of jatoba can occur through the selection of individuals that present good results to adventitious rooting. The use of IBA on adventitious rooting varies from one species to another, and due to the lack of studies on the subject concerning Hymenaea courbaril L., more experiments to be carried out in order to evaluate the rhizogenic potential should be done.