Cocoa shell substrate, indolebutyric acid doses and length of cuttings in the rooting of Fridericia chica

ABSTRACT Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L. G. Lohmann has medicinal properties and potential for commercial cultivation; however, the propagation characteristics of this species have been poorly evaluated. This study aimed to analyze the length of cuttings, indolebutyric acid (IBA) doses and substrates containing different proportions of cocoa shell in F. chica cuttings. Two experiments were carried out. In the first one, the treatments were basal cuttings of 10 cm and 20 cm in length and four IBA concentrations (0 mg L-1, 2,000 mg L-1, 4,000 mg L-1 and 6,000 mg L-1). In the second experiment, substrates obtained from five proportions of cocoa shell (CS) and expanded vermiculite (EV) compost were tested: 100 % CS; 100 % EV; 50 % CS + 50% EV; 30 % CS + 70 % EV; 70 % CS + 30 % EV. The rooting percentage, sprouting height and dry biomass production were evaluated. The production of F. chica seedlings can be performed by basal cuttings with 20 cm in length, which allow achieving a rooting rate of 91 %. The ideal IBA dose to obtain a maximum sprout length is 3,600 mg L-1. Mixtures composed of 50 % CS + 50 % EV and 30 % CS + 70 % EV were the best substrates for the production of F. chica seedlings.