Vegetative propagation of Piper aduncum L. (matico) using cuttings of varying lenghts and different substrates

Resumen

Introduction: Piper aduncum L. (Piperaceae), commonly known as matico, produces an oil with repellent, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antitumor and antiprotozoal activity.
Objective: Evaluate the rooting of P. aduncum cuttings of varying lengths in different substrates.
Methods: P. aduncum branches and leaves were collected in February 2016 at Bom Jesus Nature Reserve (25°29'69.3''S and 49°00'84.4''W) in Antonina, Paraná, Brazil. The cuttings were 10, 15 and 20 cm in length and an average 6 mm in diameter. They were planted in 53 cm³ plastic tubes and kept under intermittent mist. The substrates used were sand of average-sized particles, vermiculite and the commercial substrate Tropstrato HP®. At 60 days evaluation was performed of survival and mortality rates, cuttings with new buds, and the number and average duration of the three main roots.
Results: Verification was conducted of the interaction between length and substrate for rooting variables, percentages of cuttings with buds, and number of roots per cutting. The 10-cm-long cuttings planted in the sand substrate reached the highest rooting percentage (26.5 %). Lower values were observed in longer cuttings planted in vermiculite. The commercial substrate Tropstrato HT exhibited intermediate values and smaller variations in the length of cuttings with no statistical differences.
Conclusion: The best rooting rates are obtained with sand substrate and 10-cm-long cuttings. It is recommended that additional studies are conducted to define the most efficient protocols for the species.

Key words: aromatic species, rooting, pepper.