Propagation of fig (Ficus carica L.) cuttings under natural rooting at different submergence times

Abstract

There is a possibility that the time of submersion in natural rooting, with respect to vegetative propagation by fig cuttings, may have a significant effect or differences in the formation and characteristics of the roots. For this reason, the research was carried out in the Multipurpose Nursery, belonging to the Cota Cota Experimental Centre, under a completely randomised design with factorial arrangement, using a mother plant of more than 12 years old, which is an indication that propagation would be difficult, due to the characteristics of the plant material. The response variables evaluated were: days to root formation, percentage of survival, root length, number of roots, and percentage of lodging. The following results were obtained based on the averages of the data collected in the field research: T9 (lentil water, 48 hours) rooted in 54 days, being the best rooting time. The percentage of survival was influenced by the rooting factor directly, with the natural rooters of lentil water and willow infusion responding much better, with 85.70 and 83.66 % respectively. The rooting and submersion time presented a direct significance in root length, which is equal to 7.60 cm, with treatment 5 (willow infusion, 24 hours). In the variable number of roots, both lentil water and willow infusion achieved 8 and 7 root units respectively, both in a submersion time of 24 hours, and it is also important to note the significance in both factors. Treatment 9 (lentil water, 48 hours) with 90 % was the best average in the variable percent rooting. It was confirmed that the longer the soaking time, the more positive the rooting of the cuttings, depending on the rooting agent used.