VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF Cordia trichotoma (VELL.) ARRAB. EX STEUD. BY CUTTINGS FROM SHOOTS AND ROOTS

ABSTRACT Cordia (Cordia trichotoma (Vell.) Arrab. ex Steud.) is a native species that has high quality wood and potential for the establishment of commercial plantations. However, its propagation by seeds is difficult, and vegetative propagation is a good alternative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vegetative propagation of cordia by cuttings from shoots and roots. In one experiment, cuttings from shoots of adult plants were treated with 0 and 40 mM of indolbutyric acid (IBA). In other experiment, cuttings from roots of adult plants were classified by diameter as thick (2.0-3.0 cm) and thin (<2.0 cm) and treated with 0, 20, 40 and 60 mM of IBA. In other experiment, cuttings from roots of three-year-old plants were treated with 0, 20 and 40 mM of IBA. In all experiments, the percentages of survival, rooting and shooting, the number and length (cm) of shoots and roots were evaluated. Cuttings from roots and shoots of adult plants were not responsive to propagation, because they produced new shoots without rooting. Cuttings from roots of young plants differentiate roots, even without AIB application, enabling the production of cordia new plantlets.