Determinação do comprimento da estaca para a produção de mudas de Pitaia (Hylocereus costaricensis) em ambiente protegido

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the best cutting length for the production of pitaia (Hylocereus costaricensis) seedlings in protected environment. The experiment was carried out at the Federal Rural University of the Amazon, Campus Capitão Poço - Pará, in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications, each treatment consisting of a length of cuttings: 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm and 30 cm, forming 20 experimental plots. Each of these plots was composed of four cuttings, totaling 80 seedlings. With the appearance of the first shoots, the following parameters were evaluated: height of the seed in cm (LA), number of shoots (NB), length and diameter of the first shoot emitted (CPB and DBI) and length of the second shoot (CSB). The results obtained prove the effectiveness of the use of smaller lengths of cuttings, especially when there is shortage of propagation material, since the point of maximum emission of shoots was next to stakes of 25 cm. However, if there is abundance, larger cuttings may provide higher increments in height, diameter and length of shoots sprouted. The length of the cuttings influenced gain in height, length and diameter of the shoots, presenting a linear positive relation, that is, the bigger the stake, the bigger the increments. 25 cm cuttings can be used for the production of seedlings without compromising the number of sprouts emitted. The maximum shoot emission point was 24.11 cm, when the seedlings could emit approximately three shoots.