Influence of different parts of cuttings and substrates on vegetative propagation of Pereskia aculeata miller

Abstract

Pereskia aculeta Miller, commonly know as ora-pro-nóbis in some regions of Brazil, is a plant stands out due to its high protein content, presenting great potential for use. There is na increasing interest in the use of ora-pro-nóbis as raw material by the food industry like as concentrate form (deydrated and ground) or for direct consumption as leafy vegeTables by the population. So, is important to know the best way to propagate this specie. This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of cutting position from stem and the substrate type under growth and development of ora-pro-nóbis during seedlings production. For incresing the seedlings production to supply the demand and the lack scientific studies on this theme, this study is important to development research to vegetative propagation and substrate to produce ora-pro-nóbis seedlings. For vegetative propagation three types of cutting were used: apical, median and from the basal part of the stem. The cuttings were planted in four types of substrate: S₁ = soil; S₂ = soil + clean sand (1:1); S₃ = soil + clean sand + cattle manure (2:1:1) and S₄ = Bioplant^® commercial substrate. Sixty days after the experiment was set up, the cuttings were examined considering: the Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) index, the number of leaves, the number of shoots, root length, and dry and fresh mass from the root and from the aerial part. The physiological maturation of the stem and the tested substrate type showed differences on the quality of the cutting. The cutting originated from the basal and medium part harvested from the branch of the year and the substrate soil + sand + manure allowed the best growth and development of the ora-pro-nóbis seedlings.