Abstract

RIVERO MALDONADO, G. del C; GUERRERO, R  and  RAMIREZ, M. Rooting of acerola (Malpighia glabra L.). Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2005, vol.22, n.1, pp.34-41. ISSN 0378-7818.

It is well known that acerola ripe fruit has the highest acid ascorbic content among all fruit crops. In order to clone promissory genotypes through vegetative dissemination, this study was performed to evaluate the rooting capacity of apical (AC) and sub-apical (SC) cuttings treated with indole butyric acid (IBA) at 0, 750, 1500, 3000 and 4500 mg kg^-1. These factors were arranged in a completely randomized design, with five cuttings as an experimental unit. Each treatment was replicated five times. Cuttings were placed in a partially-closed case propagation located in the University nursery of La Universidad del Zulia. After sixty days, surviving cutting percentage (SC), rooted cutting percentage (RC), root number (RN) and length (RL) were evaluated. Results showed significant differences (P<0.01) among treatments for RC, RN and RL The highest RC (48%), RN (0.80 roots cutting^-1) and RL (5.64 cm) were obtained using AC and 750 mg kg^-1 IBA, compared to control (8%; 0.44 roots cutting^-1 and 1.74 cm, respectively). It is suggested further evaluation on IBA dosage between 500 and 1000 mg kg^-1 in order to determine the optimum dosage.

Keywords : Malpighia glabra; indole butyric acid; apical cutting; sub-apical cutting.