Indole butyric acid application methods in ‘Brite Blue’ blueberry cuttings collected in different seasons

Abstract

The cultivation of temperate fruits such as blueberries is expanding in Brazil. However, lower technical information on plant cultivation and difficulties in propagation are among the limiting factors in the expansion of the blueberry cultivation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different methods of indole butyric acid (IBA) application on the rooting of ‘Brite Blue’ blueberry herbaceous cuttings, with and without lesions, collected in two different seasons. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five replicates, each consisting of 10 cuttings, in a 3x2x2 factorial arrangement. Two IBA application methods (talc and alcohol) and control (no application), with two collection seasons (autumn and summer), and cuttings with and without basal injury, consisted of two superficial cuts on the basal part, on opposite sides, were evaluated. The cuttings were put in carbonized rice husk substrate, inside perforated plastic boxes (44x30x7 cm), and maintained in a mist chamber with intermittent regime. After 200 days, it was verified that the ‘Brite Blue’ blueberry was influenced by the cutting collection season, with higher rooting percentage when basal lesion was performed in cuttings collected in the summer. The IBA application of 1000 mg L-1 does not influence the rooting and root development of the cuttings.