Vegetative propagation of mulungu (Erythrina velutina Willd. – Fabaceae)

Abstract

The coral tree (Erythrina velutina Willd. - Fabaceae) is a tree used in popular medicine in Northeast Brazil with action proven by scientific research as well as timber, ornamental and industrial. To evaluate the vegetative propagation by cuttings were conducted six experiments with different types of cuttings and substrates, IBA and sampling times. It was found that the percentage of survival increased with decreasing age of the mother plants from which the cuttings were taken, regardless of the season. The use of IBA had no effect on rooting percentage, but the number of roots and root dry biomass increased with IBA concentration while the number of leaves and shoot dry biomass decreased. For the production of seedlings of Erythrina velutina recommends the formation and maintenance of plant matrices using the technique of clonal garden to provide material young and healthy on a larger scale and the use of semihardwood cuttings collected from young plants with 6-12 months of age and pre-treatment with 6000 mg L-1 of AIB.