Effect of ethephon and indolebutyric acid on yellow mombin propagation via cutting

Abstract

One of the obstacles in the commercial cultivation of yellow mombin (Spondias mombin L.) is the difficulty in establishing a propagation protocol for the species. This study aimed to assess the effect of treating mother plants with ethephon and applying indolebutyric acid (IBA) to yellow mombin cuttings. A completely randomized design was used, consisting of nine treatments, with ethephon (0 mg L^-1; 14.5 mg L^-1; 50 mg L^-1; 85.5 mg L^-1; 100 mg L^-1) and IBA (0 mg L^-1; 872.35 mg L^-1; 3,000 mg L^-1; 5,127.65 mg L^-1; 6,000 mg L^-1) doses, combined according to the central compound box, with four replications. Each experimental unit consisted of 12 cuttings. The highest rooting percentages of yellow mombin cuttings were observed without the application of ethephon (45.83 %) in the matrix plants and with  the use of 3,000 mg L^-1 of IBA (31.94 %). For the rooting of yellow mombin cuttings, it is not recommended to use ethephon for treating the matrix plant before the cuttings are removed. The dose of 3,000 mg L^-1 of IBA provides the maximum rooting of yellow mombin cuttings, being this dose the most recommended for the propagation via cutting.