Substrates and plant growth regulator on the rooting of pitaya cuttings

Abstract

The pitaya, a cactaceous species native to American tropical forests, produces well-appreciated and commercialized exotic fruits, mainly in the Asian continent. However, this plant species still requires technical information regarding cultivation in Brazilian agricultural areas, encouraging thus studies in several knowledge areas. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of different substrates on the rooting of cladodes immersed or not in the plant growth regulator naphthaleneacetic acid (ANA), as well as on root formation and initial development of Hylocereus undatus cuttings, which provides more vigorous and higher-quality seedlings. The experiment was carried out in a lath house of the Department of Plant Production - Horticulture Sector, College of Agronomical Sciences, Botucatu Campus, São Paulo State University (UNESP). Experimental design was completely randomized, in a 4x2 (substrates x conditions) factorial arrangement, with four replicates. At 60 days after the experiment establishment, shoot fresh and dry matter, root fresh and dry matter, and the highest root length were evaluated. The initial root growth and development of seedlings were not influenced by ANA. Substrates containing sand were the most suitable to produce vigorous and high-quality seedlings. Sand+manure bovine mixture provided higher phytomass accumulation in the root system of pitaya (H. undatus).