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The use of mini-tunnels and the effects of seasonality in the clonal propagation of Eucalyptus in a subtropical environment

2015; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 78; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00049158.2015.1039162

2325-6087

Alan Batista, Glêison Augusto dos Santos, Luciana Duque Silva, Franco Freitas Quevedo, Teotônio Francisco de Assis,

Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies

SummaryEnvironmental seasonality plays a key role in the physiological processes of root formation in vegetative reproduction for commercial cloning. The authors hypothesised that (1) subtropical climatic seasonality causes higher rates of Eucalyptus mini-cutting production and rooting during warmer months and (2) the use of mini-tunnels to cover the stumps (stools) providing cuttings would enhance these processes year round. This study evaluated the effects of seasonality and the use of mini-tunnels using eight clones of Eucalyptus spp. under subtropical environmental conditions over the course of a year. The production systems studied were (1) mini-stumps planted in a clonal hedge (control) under a retractable roof shelter and (2) mini-stumps planted inside mini-tunnels under the same shelter. Five parameters were evaluated: (1) the temperature in the two environments; (2) the production of mini-cuttings by the stumps; (3) foliar area of the cuttings at harvest; (4) the survival of cuttings after 30 days in the greenhouse with micro-sprinklers and (5) rooting of cuttings at 45 days from setting. The use of mini-tunnels increased air temperature, increased mini-cutting production by 53% and promoted a reduction in foliar area of the cuttings at harvest. Rooting was found to be greater in warmer months (summer and spring) with an overall mean rooting rate of 80% versus 68% during the colder months (autumn and winter). The hypothesis that mini-tunnels enhance rooting of the cuttings produced in them was only partially confirmed, as this technique improved rooting (from 76% to 85% for the control versus the mini-tunnel conditions, respectively) only during the warmer months.