Rooting of guarana cultivar cuttings with fertilization of matrix plants

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of plant fertilization on the rooting of guarana cuttings. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 6x2 factorial arrangement, with five cultivars and one genotype of guarana, with or without fertilization. The experimental unit contained ten cuttings with four replicates. The fertilization was applied after pruning (January), after fruiting (April), and before the beginning of flowering (May). For rooting, the cuttings were kept in incubators at 50% irradiance and under intermittent mist. After 120 days in the incubator, the following characteristics were evaluated: rooted and dead cuttings; cutting length; and volume and dry weight of roots. Plant fertilization increased rooting in 11.15%, and reduced cutting mortality in 11.05%. The fertilization promoted a greater rooting in the cultivars BRS‑Maués, BRS‑CG882 and in the genotype CMU 381. Irrespective of the cultivar, the fertilization increases the number, volume and weight of root dry matter; however, it has no influence on root length.