Influence of different compositions of substrates on the vegetative propagation of Gypsophila along the Ceará coastline

Abstract

The species Gypsophila paniculata L., popularly known as baby’s breath, branquinha or mosquitinho, belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family and has been grown commercially for sale as a cut flower. Its propagation is by means of rooted cuttings. The objective of this study was to evaluate coir dust and charred rice husks as substrates, both separate and in mixture, with an aim to the good rooting of Gypsophila paniculata cuttings. The work was caried out at the Fazenda Plurinvest Agropecuária e Turismo Ltda farm, located in Trairi, Ceará. The experimental design was completely randomized, with eight treatments and four replications (of 10 cuttings each). The treatments were: coir dust; solarised coir dust; coir dust treated with fungicide (Propamocarbe); solarised coir dust treated with fungicide; charred rice husks; charred rice husks treated with fungicide; charred rice husks and solarised coir dust; charred rice husks and solarised coir dust, the mixture treated with fungicide. After 24 days in a greenhouse in 50% shade and under irrigation by misting, the root dry-matter (g), longest root length (cm) and shoot length (cm) were evaluated. For the root dry-matter, root length and shoot length variables, the substrates of charred rice husks (0.099 g, 5.50 cm and 6.2 cm respectively) and charred rice husks with solarised coir dust (0.097 g, 5.40 cm and 6.1 cm respectively) gave the best results for the vegatative propagation of Gypsophila paniculata.